Rep. Derek Tran Questions Defense Secretary on Treatment of Congress Members and Troop Deployment

Incident with Senator Padilla

• 📌 Representative Derek Tran questioned Secretary Hegseth about the physical assault and arrest of Senator Padilla for attending a press event.
• ❓ Tran asked if Hegseth would treat a member of Congress similarly, to which Hegseth responded he wouldn't speculate on hypotheticals.

Unconstitutional Orders and Troop Deployment

• ⚠️ Tran asked if the DoD plans to follow orders from President Trump that violate the Constitution, to which Hegseth rejected the premise.
• 🚀 Hegseth stated that the deployment of Marines to California is a response to situations like concrete blocks being thrown at ICE officers.
• 🏠 The Secretary confirmed there is a plan to house and feed the deployed Marines and National Guardsmen.

Coordination with Local Law Enforcement

• 🗺️ Tran questioned the decision to deploy troops to a one-square-mile area in Los Angeles without coordinating with local law enforcement and the governor's office.
• 🗣️ Hegseth stated that the governor has been an obstruction to coordination efforts.
• 🇺🇸 The Secretary asserted that service members are in Los Angeles to defend law enforcement, ICE agents, and facilities.

Cost and Mismanagement Concerns

• 💰 Representative Tran highlighted that the deployment is expected to cost taxpayers at least $134 million and disrupt thousands of personnel.
• 🚨 Tran argued that diverting combat-ready troops from critical national security threats to manage domestic protests is gross mismanagement and a disgrace.