Pentagon reveals how much Donald Trump's troop deployment to Los Angeles for 60 days could cost

Amid the massive protests in Los Angeles, the Pentagon said Tuesday it expects its 60-day deployment the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to cost at least $134 million. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday defended the deployment of National Guardsmen and Marines to Los Angeles amid objections from Democrats about their domestic deployment. Protests continue in Los Angeles and other cities across the country in response to Trump's immigration crackdown.

President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles amid mass deportation protests will likely cost $134 million, the Pentagon’s budget chief told lawmakers. The cost covers expenses such as travel, lodging, and meal expenses, according to Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, the acting chief financial officer at the Department of Defense.

ALSO READ: Sonoma county woman sues Costco for over $14 million after shocking display cabinet incident


"We've been clear from the start—this is a 60-day mission because we want to send a message to the rioters, looters, and thugs attacking law enforcement that we're not backing down," Hegseth said during testimony before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Acting Pentagon comptroller Bryn MacDonnell, testifying at a House budget hearing on Tuesday alongside Hegseth, said the estimate covers costs such as travel, housing and food, as per Politico. Pentagon Comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell said the money will be pulled from the troops’ existing operations and maintenance accounts.

Democratic lawmakers sought answers from Hegseth about the deployments, and raised concerns about sending active-duty U.S. troops to a mission that they said would be better performed by law enforcement officers.

"This is a deeply unfair position to put our Marines in. Their service should be honored. It should not be exploited," said Representative Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, on a House Appropriations subcommittee.

ALSO READ: Giant dust storm equal the size of 48 US states likely to hit Florida this week. Is it heading your way?

Trump to revoke Insurrection Act?

Trump has ordered 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to assist law enforcement with the protests, although California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have said they are not needed. California has sued the Trump administration over the use of troops, arguing it violates state sovereignty.

The President defended his decision to send Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to Los Angeles, escalating a military presence local officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom don’t want and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests. Additional protests against immigration raids are expected to continue in other cities Tuesday.

ALSO READ: 2024 US Presidential election is under scrutiny as lawsuit claims discrepancies in Rockland County, New York

President Donald Trump on Tuesday was asked if he would use the Insurrection Act as a response to the protests in Los Angeles over his administration's immigration crackdown.

"If there's an insurrection, we would certainly invoke it. We will see," Trump responded.

"There were areas of Los Angeles last night where you could call it an insurrection," he later added. He again claimed, without evidence, that the protesters are "paid insurrectionists."

(With agency inputs)