The Pentagon revealed on Tuesday that deploying 4,000 California National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid immigration enforcement protests will cost approximately $134 million. Acting Pentagon comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell disclosed the figure during a House subcommittee hearing, attributing the expenses to housing, travel, and food for troops.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the 60-day deployment, stating it was necessary to address security concerns. "We want to ensure that those rioters, looters, and thugs… know we're not going anywhere," Hegseth told lawmakers, emphasizing the administration's commitment to supporting local law enforcement.
The hearing highlighted tensions over federal responses to civil unrest, with lawmakers scrutinizing the financial and operational implications of prolonged military deployments in domestic settings.
