Protection Secretary Hegseth defended the deployment of 4,800 Nationwide Guard personnel and Marines to Los Angeles in his first congressional testimony since taking on the Pentagon.
Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the highest Democrat on the Home Appropriations Protection Subcommittee, insisted the Marines aren’t skilled for a home mission.
“All the items on the bottom have been absolutely skilled,” Hegseth mentioned.
Members of the California Nationwide Guard stand watch outdoors the Edward R. Roybal Federal Constructing on the morning of June 10, 2025, following one other day of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP through Getty Pictures
Throughout Capitol Hill, Gen. Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, mentioned that the 700 Marines being despatched to Los Angeles are skilled in crowd management and will likely be offering assist to regulation enforcement in defending federal property.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, expressed his doubts to Smith about using combat-trained items domestically saying he had issues and was “deeply apprehensive” that their deployment elevated the danger of deadly power probably getting used.
“As Marines, senator, I’d say that each one Marines are skilled in crowd management, embassy reinforcement, and many others. So that is a part of their coaching. Certain, all Marines are skilled in crowd management, sir, the usual Marine Expeditionary Unit earlier than they deploy is skilled, and this battalion was prepared for that,” Smith responded.
