US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has raised controversy by hinting that he may not abide by a federal court ruling to pull back National Guard troops and US Marines from Los Angeles. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, Pete Hegseth intimated the administration would maintain soldiers in LA regardless of the court’s instruction to restore control to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Pete Hegseth further stated that only a decision by the Supreme Court would be binding. The announcement infuriated Democrats and triggered new concerns about a constitutional crisis under President Donald Trump’s watch.
Pete Hegseth Rejects Lower Court Jurisdiction
Following a federal judge’s decision that California ought to retake control of troops deployed during immigration protests, an appeals court temporarily blocked the ruling. Nonetheless, Hegseth’s own words at the Senate hearing resonated with Trump’s own language.
“I don’t think district courts ought to be making national security policy,” he told Senator Mazie Hirono. To Senator Elizabeth Warren, he said: “If the Supreme Court decides on something, we will comply.”
Marines Arrested Protester in LA
The ground situation in LA is still tense. US Marines recently arrested a citizen demonstrating in a federal building. On being questioned whether troops had been instructed to arrest or shoot protesters, Hegseth had made it clear that soldiers could detain only in self-defense and move people over to ICE.
But his tone became sarcastic when Senator Elissa Slotkin questioned possible use of force. Hegseth chuckled and shot back, “Senator, I’d be careful about what you read in books and believe in, other than the Bible.” Slotkin snapped back: “Oh my God.”
Troop Control Sparks Lawsuits
Trump’s use of federal troops has evoked legal pushback, particularly by California. The state sued the administration regarding the role of the National Guard in ICE-related crackdowns. Democrats now charge Trump and Hegseth with disregarding court orders and centralizing control perilously.
The hearing also covered unrelated issues like military base renaming. Pete Hegseth defended his decision to reverse changes made by Joe Biden, who had renamed Confederate-named bases after respected veterans. Senator Tim Kaine criticised the move, saying families were blindsided by the news. Hegseth declined to pause the reversal and said, “We’ll find ways to recognise them.”
Democrats Warn of Crisis
Democrats cautioned that Hegseth’s comments are part of a larger Trump-era trend—avoiding judicial scrutiny and extending executive authority. GOP senators, however, complained that the hearing digressed from its planned topic: the Pentagon budget and increasing Iran-Israel tensions.
Hegseth’s testimony is a disturbing indication of how the Trump administration is likely to defy court decisions even on domestic deployments.