The Pentagon claimed that the deployment of National Guard members and Marines to protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles It will cost the US Treasury $134 million.
After persistent questions from members of Congress on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the approximate cost after consulting with Bryn Woolacott McDonnell, who is acting undersecretary of defense for finance.
He explained that this amount will cover the cost of travel, housing and food for the approximately 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines. According to Hegseth, the money will come from funds related to military operations and maintenance projects.
Hegseth also faced pressing questions and criticism from MPs who criticized him for his first moves in the ministry, which were to dismiss key military leaders and scrap inclusion programs.
Congress also expressed bipartisan dissatisfaction over the fact that lawmakers have not yet received an analysis of the Defense budget from the Trump administration.
“Your tenure as secretary has been one of endless chaos,” said Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, addressing Hegseth. Others, including Republican politicians, warned that mammoth projects like President Donald Trump’s plans for the $175 billion Golden Dome missile system would face scrutiny from the House.
Trump has announced that the government's defense budget will reach one trillion dollars, significantly increased from the current spending level of 800 billion.
Lawmakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's attempts to bypass Congress by unilaterally pushing through changes.
Costs were a key issue, as committee members asked Hegseth multiple questions about plans for hundreds of millions of dollars in security upgrades to a Qatari jet to transform it into a new “Air Force One,” as well as the $45 million that a military parade added at the last minute to the Army’s 250th anniversary celebrations — which coincide with Trump’s birthday on Saturday — could cost.
Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, asked Hegseth about the deployment of about 700 active-duty Marines to support the 4,100 National Guardsmen in protecting federal buildings and personnel during protests over immigration arrests in Los Angeles.
He had a tense argument with Hegseth about the cost of the operation, and he attempted to dodge questions by assuring that the ministry had the money to cover the costs.
Under U.S. law, the military is prohibited from conducting police checks on civilians on U.S. soil. Only invoking a riot suppression law would allow this, but it is unclear whether Trump intends to pursue such a move.
The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, will testify Tuesday on Capitol Hill at a separate budget hearing and will likely face similar questions.
