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.

Carbajal, who has served in Marine Corps Reserve, said during the committee hearing he has "serious concern" regarding the deployment to LA and called it a "political theater."