Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to testify before a House panel on Tuesday, marking his first appearance on Capitol Hill since taking office five months ago. This hearing comes as scrutiny grows regarding the deployment of approximately 4,800 troops, including 700 Marines, to Los Angeles as part of a crackdown on immigration.
Hegseth will appear alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell to discuss the administration’s proposed budget for 2026. While he is expected to address the military’s recruitment successes and technology advancements, many anticipate he will sidestep details regarding the military’s spending plans, which remain unreleased.
The deployment of troops, known as Task Force 51, has drawn significant attention following recent clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Los Angeles. This mobilization, executed under Title 10, allows the president to send military forces to protect federal personnel and property.
As Hegseth prepares for his testimony, Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the leading Democrat on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, criticized President Donald Trump for allegedly exacerbating the situation by advocating for military support that was not requested by California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom. She described the decision to send Marines as “outrageous.”
“The active duty military has absolutely no legal role in domestic law enforcement. President Trump and Secretary Hegseth should read the Constitution and follow the law,” she stated.
The Pentagon has refrained from holding a press conference since the troop deployment, redirecting inquiries to Hegseth’s social media posts. Hegseth has stated that the troops’ presence is necessary to safeguard federal immigration officers and detention facilities. He emphasized, “There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job. The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE.”
U.S. officials clarified that while the troops will carry firearms, these weapons are intended strictly for self-defense and to secure federal property, not for street patrols or arresting protesters. The possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act remains uncertain; this 1807 law enables the president to deploy the military in response to insurrections or domestic violence.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump labeled the Los Angeles demonstrators as “violent, insurrectionist mobs” and “paid insurrectionists.” When asked about Hegseth’s communication with Trump, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson confirmed that the Secretary maintains regular contact with the President regarding the National Guard’s activities in Los Angeles.
Following the hearing, Hegseth is expected to accompany the President to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for events celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday. Under his leadership, the military has taken control of extensive stretches of the southern border with Mexico to address unauthorized immigration. Hegseth has also discontinued diversity initiatives within the military, reduced the number of general officers, and initiated plans for a $175 billion missile defense system.
Additionally, Hegseth is currently dealing with reports of turmoil and conflict within his staff at the Pentagon. Since assuming his role on January 25, he has dismissed or reassigned multiple senior political advisors and has operated without a chief of staff since April. Tuesday’s hearing will also be his first since reports emerged that he utilized a commercial messaging application called Signal to communicate sensitive information about military operations to high-ranking officials and personal contacts, including his spouse. The use of this app is now under investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector general.
Report contributed by ABC’s Luis Martinez.