The Pentagon chief stumbled when pressed on the legal underpinning for the deployment of 700 Marines to California.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that "hopefully" governors in other states would mobilize their Guards themselves and took a swipe at California Gov. Gavin Newsom for "playing politics."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Tuesday strongly defended the Trump administration’s military response to protests in Los Angeles, his first appearance in a series of congressional hearings over the next week that are likely to be a major test of his leadership following what has widely been viewed as a rocky first few months on the job.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his decision to order troops to provide security during federal immigration raids in Los Angeles.

The request from Homeland Security, confirmed by a Defense official, also seeks “drone surveillance support,” direction to troops on detaining or arresting “lawbreakers,” and graduates from an organization like the Marines’ School of Advanced Warfighting School for setting up a joint operation center.

Amid the back-and-forth between Hegseth and Democrats at a House Appropriations Committee defense subpanel hearing, the Pentagon's acting comptroller also told lawmakers that the LA deployments are expected to cost at least $134 million.

The cost estimate came during a feisty exchange as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the House on Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending the Trump administration over his deployment of the military to LA.

President Donald Trump warned that the use of the military in response to protests against his illegal immigration crackdown won't be limited to just Los Angeles.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration's deployment of Marines and National Guard to Los Angeles during questioning by Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Hegseth said President Trump's use of military personnel is "lawful and constitutional.