Hegseth appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which has been stalled by the Pentagon’s late budget request this year. Incoming administrations often take longer to submit their first spending plan, but three months after the usual deadline, Congress still has no detailed request.

The proposed Department of Defense budget puts "America first" while addressing Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

The sweeps have fueled six days of protests resulting in hundreds of arrests in Los Angeles while demonstrations have spread across the nation.