Defense Secretary Hegseth Sidesteps Court Ruling on Military Deployment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday regarding his commitment to abide by potential court rulings about the deployment of active-duty Marines to Los Angeles. This deployment is under heavy criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Hegseth repeatedly avoided directly answering whether he would respect a federal district or Supreme Court decision on the matter. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California pressed Hegseth, asking, “Whatever the federal district court decides, will you abide by it?” Hegseth described the situation as a ‘pending’ one.

“My job right now is to ensure the troops we have in Los Angeles are capable of supporting law enforcement,” Hegseth stated, deflecting further questions about court rulings. When pressed again, he maintained, “We’ve always looked to the decisions of the court,” but expressed hesitation about local judges influencing national security.

During this exchange, he said, “What I’m saying is, local district judges shouldn’t make foreign policy for the United States.” His comments illustrate the ongoing tension surrounding military deployment decisions and local governance.

Hegseth’s appearance at the hearing comes as storms threaten Donald Trump’s planned military parade in Washington D.C. scheduled for Saturday, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday. Steve Warren, the U.S. Army’s spokesman, indicated that while rain would not halt the parade, lightning would pose a risk to attendees.

The legality and implications of military presence in California are now entwined with broader issues surrounding immigration and federal oversight. Hegseth’s answers leave open questions about the administration’s respect for judicial decisions in matters of national security.