Defense Secretary Hegseth Defends $134 Million Deployment to Los Angeles

Strategic Insights -

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced fierce questioning from Democrats during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on Tuesday, where he defended the deployment of Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles. Hegseth insisted that the deployment was necessary to protect federal law enforcement agents, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and to maintain law and order in the city. The Pentagon chief estimated the deployment would cost $134 million, including travel, housing, and food expenses, but refused to provide detailed information on the costs and logistics of the operation.

Hegseth's comments came as he was pressed by ranking member Betty McCollum about the cost of the deployment, which she argued was premature and escalatory. McCollum noted that local law enforcement and the governor in her home state of Minnesota were able to handle a similar situation in 2020 without deploying federal troops. Hegseth fired back that the governor had "abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground," and claimed that the National Guard was called in too late.

Key Takeaways:

  • The deployment of 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles is estimated to cost $134 million, including travel, housing, and food expenses.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the deployment, insisting that it was necessary to protect federal law enforcement agents and maintain law and order in the city.
  • Hegseth refused to provide detailed information on the costs and logistics of the operation, despite repeated questioning from Democrats.
  • Hegseth made a series of claims about the 2020 protests in Minnesota, stating that the governor had "abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground," and that the National Guard was called in too late.
  • Hegseth denied that the deployment was a first since 1965, requiring a governor's request, and instead claimed that it was an "authoritative" move by the president.
  • Hegseth also claimed that federal troops are not prohibited from using military force against civilians in normal law enforcement, citing the Insurrection Act, despite the fact that the president has not invoked it.

Statistics:

  • $134 million: estimated cost of the deployment of 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
  • 7,000: total number of troops deployed (700 Marines + 4,000 National Guard).
  • 60 days: estimated length of the deployment.
  • 2020: year in which the governor of Minnesota called in the National Guard to respond to protests following George Floyd's death.
  • 13%: increase in the defense budget since the previous administration.

Sources:

  • The Daily Beast (https://www.thedailybeast.com/hegseth-slaps-back-questions-about-134m-cost-of-deploying-troops-to-la/)
  • The Hill (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/517419-hegseth-says-ice-agents-should-be-able-to-operate-in-any-jurisdiction)
  • CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/us/national-guard-mn-protests-trnd/index.html)
  • NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minnesota-governor-sued-trump-over-ice-deployment-lost-legally-n1235533)