Defense Secretary Hegseth defended the deployment of 4,800 National Guard personnel and Marines to Los Angeles in his first congressional testimony since taking over the Pentagon.
Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, insisted the Marines aren’t trained for a domestic mission.
“All of the units on the ground have been fully trained,” Hegseth said.
Members of the California National Guard stand watch outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building on the morning of June 10, 2025, following another day of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Across Capitol Hill, Gen. Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, said that the 700 Marines being sent to Los Angeles are trained in crowd control and will be providing support to law enforcement in protecting federal property.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, expressed his doubts to Smith about the use of combat-trained units domestically saying he had concerns and was “deeply worried” that their deployment increased the risk of lethal force possibly being used.
“As Marines, senator, I would say that all Marines are trained in crowd control, embassy reinforcement, etc. So this is part of their training. Sure, all Marines are trained in crowd control, sir, the standard Marine Expeditionary Unit before they deploy is trained, and this battalion was ready for that,” Smith responded.
