Trump’s L.A. Troop Deployment to Cost Taxpayers $134M

The federal government is preparing to spend around $134 million to send thousands of troops to Los Angeles, part of President Donald Trump’s latest effort to crack down on immigration protests and assist law enforcement. The hefty price tag was revealed during a congressional budget hearing this week by acting Pentagon budget chief Bryn MacDonnell, who said the figure includes costs for troop travel, housing, and meals.

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The deployment includes 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, all headed to Los Angeles despite strong objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Both leaders have stated clearly that federal troops are not needed in the city and that local agencies are capable of handling the situation.

During the hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a controversial figure with a background as a Fox News personality, defended the decision and pointed the finger at local and state leadership for the unrest. According to Hegseth, California’s Democratic leaders have failed to ensure public safety, which made federal intervention necessary. “President Trump has said he will protect our agents,” Hegseth said, emphasizing that the Guard and Marines are proud to serve.

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The situation has sparked legal pushback as well. California has filed a lawsuit challenging the troop deployment, arguing it oversteps federal authority and violates state sovereignty. Still, Hegseth insisted the president has full legal authority to intervene in this manner, especially when national security or public safety is perceived to be at risk.

The hearing also highlighted growing political tension between Hegseth and congressional Democrats. Lawmakers grilled him not just about the troop deployment but also about broader Pentagon concerns, including staffing shake-ups, a lack of a formal defense budget, and reports of encrypted messaging apps being used for sensitive military communications.

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In a particularly tense exchange, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) referenced the 2020 protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s killing, pointing out that the situation was managed without active-duty troops. Hegseth shot back, blaming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — now the Democrats’ 2024 vice presidential candidate — for what he described as poor crisis management. He claimed Trump’s decision to send troops now is based on lessons from past incidents where local leaders, in his view, failed to act decisively.

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While the $134 million deployment may move forward, it’s far from the end of the political fight. Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill for additional hearings this week, where more questions are expected — especially as criticism mounts over how this operation could impact civil-military relations and state autonomy.

As protests continue and tensions rise between state and federal governments, many are left wondering whether military involvement in domestic unrest is a step too far — and whether the hefty cost will deliver meaningful results or only deepen political divides.

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