Congressional Democrats on Tuesday clashed repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, demanding details on the Trump administration’s sparsely outlined defense budget request and admonishing him for a string of controversies — including his deployment of thousands of military personnel to Los Angeles over the objections of California’s governor.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Tuesday strongly defended the Trump administration’s military response to protests in Los Angeles, his first appearance in a series of congressional hearings over the next week that are likely to be a major test of his leadership following what has widely been viewed as a rocky first few months on the job.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was questioned in the House over the administration's decision to send National Guard troops into L.A., to quell protests against ICE raids.

Lawmakers also have made it clear they’re unhappy that Hegseth hasn’t provided details on the administration’s first proposed defense budget, which Trump has said would total $1 trillion, a significan...