Secretary Hegseth admitted he didn’t know the authority President Trump is using to deploy troops, revealed Los Angeles deployments cost taxpayers $134 million

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, during a House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the President’s decision to mobilize the California National Guard and deploy U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. Secretary Hegseth testified that he didn’t know the authority the President was using to deploy troops, that his office was “personally” taking care of the housing and food for the National Guard despite reports showing troops sleeping on the floor, and that the 60-day deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million. 

“Secretary Hegseth showed the American people in his testimony today that he is the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American History,” Rep. Aguilar said. “The fact that there were no plans in place for our troops is proof that Donald Trump is using these protests as a distraction from his plan to throw 16 million people off their health insurance to pay for tax breaks for billionaire donors. Now taxpayers are on the hook for $134 million for a divisive publicity stunt.” 

You can watch Rep. Aguilar’s line of questioning here.