Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth answered questions on Tuesday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense about President Donald Trump deploying National Guard soldiers and Marines to Los Angeles.
California Rep. Pete Aguilar (D) said that he has "severe concerns" about the soldiers being sent to LA without consultation with the governor of the state.
Ultimately, Aguilar inquired about the authority Trump has to deploy the guard without consulting state leaders.
"10 USC 12 406 says a legal basis that the president uses cites three examples in circumstances for the guard," Aguilar said before reading the law. "Invasion by a foreign nation, a rebellion or dangerous rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States, or if the president is unable with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. Which authority is triggered here to justify the use?"
"I don't know, you just read it yourself, and people can listen to themselves, but it sounds like all three to me," Hegseth responded.
Aguilar also noted he'd seen photos of the soldiers sleeping on the ground and that they haven't been "provided fuel, food or water by the DOD." He asked how long the deployment would last and "why were we unprepared to provide them basic necessities such as food and water?"
Hegseth said that the commanders on the ground are "very well prepared" and were able to respond "incredibly rapidly to a deteriorating situation."
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell disputed that the situation was deteriorating, noting in a briefing Monday that it "heightened everybody's level of awareness and certainly anxiety."
He claimed, "there are moments where you make do as best you can temporarily. But we are ensuring they are housed, fed, water, capabilities in real time from my office because I care that much about the California Guard and the Marines."
Aguilar questioned what Hegseth said he was doing personally, which prompted an angry response.
"It's true every day! That's a disengenuous attack that misrepresents how much we care about our troops and what they're doing," Hegseth said, wagging a finger.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday, "The troops—whose makeshift quarters are shown in photographs exclusively obtained by the Chronicle—arrived without federal funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging, said the source, who was granted confidentiality under Chronicle policies. This person said state officials and the California National Guard were not to blame…
"This is what happens when the president and (Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth) demand the National Guard state assets deploy immediately with no plan in place … (and) no federal funding available for food, water, fuel and lodging," the source said. “This is really the failure of the federal government. If you’re going to federalize these troops, then take care of them."
"I'm not gonna take that we don't care about the troops," Hegseth continued to deny.
See the clip below or at the link here.