Hegseth Won't Confirm Compliance on LA Troop Orders

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to confirm whether he would comply with federal court rulings regarding President Donald Trump’s deployment of active-duty Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles, amid protests and immigration enforcement actions. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Hegseth deflected direct questions from lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna, maintaining that local judges should not dictate national security policy. California Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials have sued, arguing the deployments were made without proper state consultation and are unnecessary. The administration asserts constitutional and statutory authority for the move, while critics warn this could expand executive power over military use within the U.S. A federal judge has not yet ruled on Newsom's request to block the deployments, leaving the legal and constitutional questions unresolved. The dispute highlights intensifying tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and executive power.