$134 Million Price Tag for Trump's LA Protest Response: Pentagon Official Reveals Funding Source

Los Angeles Protest Response Cost: $134 Million, Pentagon Official Testifies Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration's decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles during 2025 protests resulted in a hefty price tag, according to testimony from Pentagon Chief Financial Officer Bryn MacDonnell. MacDonnell appeared before a House panel on Tuesday, June 10th, and revealed that the operation has cost $134 million to date. This figure, she clarified, is largely comprised of Temporary Duty (TDY) costs, including travel, housing, and food for personnel involved. Representative [Representative's Name], a member of the House panel, questioned MacDonnell regarding the funding source. "Where is this funding coming from?" Representative [Representative's Name] asked. MacDonnell responded that the funds were drawn from the military's Operations and Maintenance (O&M) accounts, directly addressing concerns that money was diverted from essential programs like housing and barracks upkeep. "The insinuation that we're pulling money from housing and barracks in order to fund this is disingenuous and incorrect," a separate official stated during the hearing. The testimony provides a clear accounting of the financial impact of the deployment. The large sum spent underscores the significant resources required for such operations, while MacDonnell's direct response to funding concerns addresses public anxieties about potential budget misallocation.