US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses testified before the House Approximately Defense Subcommittee held at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A Pentagon budget official said Tuesday that the deployment of National Guard troops and US Marines to the Trump administration protesting the federal government over immigrant attacks in Los Angeles was due to further split in response to California and Washington, D.C.’s protests.

Despite the Republican-led Congress sought the path to a Trump-backed tax and spending reduction bill, the country’s second-largest city situation has attracted the attention of lawmakers in the country’s capital.

Congressional Democrats on Tuesday warned of the administration’s actions adjacent to authoritarianism, but President Donald Trump said his intervention saved the city from destruction.

“If we didn’t send the National Guard right now, Los Angeles would be burning on the ground,” Trump said Tuesday in his oval office.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has sought a restraining order blocking 4,000 National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines deployed in Los Angeles from support of domestic law enforcement agencies. Trump ordered the troops to the city over objections to Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Budget questions

Democrats at Capitol Hill have criticized the administration over several aspects of the development, saying Trump has incited violence, surpassed his authority and wasted taxpayer money.

During a previously scheduled, scheduled defense subcommittee hearing, Minnesota Democrats and California Pete Aguiler asked Pete Hegg about the financial costs of deploying 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines in Los Angeles.

Heggs, a Minnesota native, refused to answer McCollum’s questions directly, instead erupting riots in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in 2020, saying Trump tried to avoid similar confusion in Los Angeles.

“President Trump is aware of that situation and was handled inappropriately by the governor. If Governor (Tim) Waltz gets out of control, it’s a bad situation for citizens everywhere,” he said.

When Aguillar asked a similar question about costs, Hegseth represented Pentagon Director Bryn MacDonnell to estimate the current costs of $134 million, primarily for housing, travel and food. The money came from existing operations and maintenance accounts, she said.

Hegseth told the panel that the deployment was approved for 60 days.

But Trump, just two miles away from the White House, implied that decisions could be more free, saying that the military would remain in Los Angeles “until there is no danger.”

“When there’s no danger, they’ll leave,” he said.

Restraint Order

California federal lawsuit challenges development Submitted on Mondayis included request Because the court issues a restraining order by 1pm on Tuesday. US District Judge Charles R. Breyer did not issue such an order by that deadline.

The administration “intended to use military personnel to accompany federal immigration enforcement officials on attacks across Los Angeles,” the request for the restraining order said.

“These illegal developments have already proven to be inflammatory and unnecessary provocations, and the harassment of our laws limits the restriction of (or) use of law enforcement, rather than a modest means of recovery,” the state said.

“The federal hostilities have already caused realistic and irreparable damage to the city of Los Angeles, the people there, and California, through the presence of soldiers on the streets. We must stop immediately.”

Members of the Congressional Cooperative for Democrats and Black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Island Democrats in California’s Legislature delegation have denounced the administration’s role in burning standoffs between protesters and immigrants and customs enforcement agents.

“President Trump’s illegal decision to deploy the National Guard on the streets of Los Angeles is a reckless, inflammatory escalation, designed to cause chaos rather than mild,” Yvette D. Clark, chairman of Congress’ Black Caucus, said at a press conference.

“Let’s clarify how this started. The illegal and inhumane targeting, detention and deportation of our immigrant neighbors has sparked peaceful protests.”

Clark, a New York Democrat, said in response to a reporter’s question that he believes the introduction of troops constitutes a perchable act by Trump.

“I believe it’s definitely the case, but when we get to it, we’ll cross that bridge,” she said.

“We met through strength.”

Other Democrats on Capitol Hill said on Monday and Tuesday that Trump designed the conflict to divert the Republican “big, beautiful bills” and other unpopular provisions of issues.

“Donald Trump has been cornered by his own mistakes — from pushing a heartless bill that tears healthcare from 16 million Americans to raising costs from his reckless tariffs to his war with Elon Musk — Trump is desperately looking for distractions,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday.

“His order to deploy Americans and Marines (our own army) to Americans is not only outrageously provocative, but also a dangerous authoritarian overreach that threatens the very structure of our democracy.”

Rep. Jimmy Gomez led a press conference for the U.S. House Democrats in California on Tuesday, where he warned that militarization in Los Angeles could happen elsewhere.

“If it could happen in Los Angeles, it could happen in any state of the union,” he said.

Later in the oval office, Trump said protesters would “meet with very strong force” at Saturday’s military parade.

“Tarred and feathers”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump reporters acted responsibly to protect Southern Californians, and blamed Newsom for his “failed leadership” that he said led to conflict this weekend.

Asked if Newsom should be arrested for obstructing immigration enforcement, as proposed by Trump and White House border emperor Tom Homan, Johnson first stepped in the way before proposing 18th century punishment.

“We don’t intend to do a legal analysis of whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested,” the Louisiana Republican said.

“But he has to torment and have feathers… he is in the way of administration and federal law. Is he right?

Johnson said House Republicans have biased questions about whether there are points that oppose the administration’s efforts, completely behind Trump’s actions.

“He’s now within his authority to do what he’s doing,” Johnson said. “We need to maintain the order.”