From PBS NewsHour.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth whether the Defense Department intended to deploy national guard members or Marines to cities beyond Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump has already called the in the military to tamp down immigration protests, saying that they are tasked with protecting federal property and federal personnel.

Blumenthal asked Hegseth whether there were "contingency plans" to deploy additional troops, which Hegseth did not directly answer. Blumenthal also called the deployments illegal.

"We have never and will not illegally deploy troops," Hegseth said. "All have been under existing well established authorities to use troops to support federal law enforcement officers."

Blumenthal argued there has been no legal justification and said he expected legal challenges against the deployments to succeed.

Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday as tensions rise in the Middle East and President Donald Trump is reportedly considering whether to involve the U.S. in Israel’s strikes on Iran.

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