Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced bipartisan criticism Tuesday over costly military initiatives, including a $134 million deployment of troops to Los Angeles and a $45 million parade timed with Donald Trump‘s birthday. During a House Appropriations hearing, lawmakers grilled Hegseth for a lack of transparency on the administration’s proposed $1 trillion defense budget.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) demanded answers on the use of 700 Marines and over 4,000 National Guard troops amid protests against federal immigration raids in LA. Acting comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell confirmed the $134 million price tag after Hegseth deflected budget questions.
Meanwhile, members criticized spending on symbolic events such as the Army’s 250th anniversary parade, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) calling Hegseth’s leadership “endless chaos.”
Trump’s defense team has also drawn scrutiny for plans to transform a Qatari jet into a new Air Force One and for bypassing Congress on major shifts. Hegseth defended the spending, calling National Guard use essential to “homeland security.”
Congress remains without full details on the broader defense proposal.
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