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.

Trump admin threatens military deployment nationwide as rallies flare up across US - Los Angeles enforces a second consecutive curfew to crack down on criminal activity as anti-ICE protests erupt in o

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.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced second day of grilling, this time from senators about the defends budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Hegseth appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which has been stalled by the Pentagon’s late budget request this year. Incoming administrations often take longer to submit their first spending plan, but three months after the usual deadline, Congress still has no detailed request.

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.

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