Following Trump’s Deployment of Troops to Major US Cities, Warren Raises Alarm, Secures Commitment from Trump Military Nominee to Follow Court Orders

Following Trump's Deployment of Troops to Major US Cities, Warren Raises Alarm, Secures Commitment from Trump Military Nominee to Follow Court Orders

Warren: "We cannot let the military become a political weapon to intimidate our communities."

Video of Exchange (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. - At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Personnel Subcommittee, raised her concerns to General Christopher J. Mahoney, nominee to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the growing costs associated with using the military to perform law enforcement duties. If confirmed, General Mahoney would be responsible for overseeing joint military requirements and making recommendations.

The Trump administration recently deployed the National Guard to support law enforcement functions in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and threatened to send troops into other major cities. Senator Warren slammed this recent politicization of the military, saying it "undermines our democracy and is a betrayal of the men and women who signed up to put their lives on the line to protect this country."

Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is generally prohibited from performing law enforcement duties. A U.S. District Court ruled that the Trump administration willfully violated the Posse Comitatus Act during the troop deployment in Los Angeles.

General Mahoney committed to providing Congress with his best military judgment on whether domestic deployment operations are hurting readiness and would comply with any federal court decisions.

Senator Warren also highlighted that, earlier this year, the Trump administration took $1 billion from Congressionally appropriated funds for barracks renovations and redirected that money for border operations. In March, at a Readiness Subcommittee hearing, General Mahoney cited quality of life and living conditions as among his top three investment priorities. He committed to telling Congress if he believes that appropriated funding is moved without congressional authorization.

"Senator, I commit to giving you my best military advice on all issues," said General Mahoney.

Senator Warren concluded by urging her colleagues to stop President Trump and Secretary Hegseth from abusing their authority and the military.

"I urge my Republican colleagues to wake up and stop the president and the secretary from grossly abusing his authority and abusing our military," said Senator Warren.

Transcript: Hearings to examine the nomination of General Christopher J. Mahoney, USMC, for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Senate Armed Services Committee
September 11, 2025

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations, General Mahoney, on your nomination.

This administration's politicization of the military undermines our democracy and is a betrayal of the men and women who signed up to put their lives on the line to protect this country. The Posse Comitatus Act is clear that the military generally should not be used for domestic law enforcement activities, but the Trump administration has deployed the military to perform law enforcement functions in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, and threatened to send troops into Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans. When Secretary Hegseth came before this committee in June, I asked him how many American cities he would deploy troops to, and he wouldn't rule out any number, even if those missions put our military readiness at risk.

General Mahoney, if you are confirmed, you will be responsible for overseeing joint military requirements. If this committee asks for your best military judgment on whether these operations are hurting readiness, will you share any concerns with us?

General Mahoney: Senator, I will.

Senator Warren: Okay. I appreciate that. A U.S. District Court recently ruled that the Trump administration willfully-that's their word-violated the Posse Comitatus Act during the troop deployment in Los Angeles. Arrests and detention should only be performed by civilian law enforcement, not the military, but the court found both bystanders and federal agencies, including the military commander, were unable to distinguish the members of the military from federal law enforcement agencies. Gerald Mahoney, federal courts may soon find that deployments to Washington, Chicago, and Baltimore were illegal.

If confirmed, will your military advice be to act in accordance with the findings of federal courts?

General Mahoney: Senator, they will, in the fullness of a judicial process, if something is found legal or illegal, the advice will be based on that finding as a conclusive finding.

Senator Warren: You're going to follow the courts?

General Mahoney: That's correct.

Senator Warren: All right. So earlier this year, the Trump administration took $1 billion that Congress had appropriated for barracks renovations and redirected that money for border operations. This is funding meant to address barracks that have become completely unlivable, places with overflowing sewage and fire systems that don't work. You provided testimony to the readiness subcommittee earlier this year that investing in quality of life "specifically, our barracks, for our Marines" are "key investments if we are going to count on them to generate a lethal force," but the cost of asking the military to police American communities is only going to grow and eat into funds that are specifically designated by Congress to support our troops. So General Mahoney, will you commit to providing this committee with your best military advice if you believe that funding is being moved without congressional authorization in a way that undermines service members' quality of life?

General Mahoney: Senator, I commit to giving you my best military advice on all issues. This one included.

Senator Warren: I appreciate that you know it is completely un-American to unleash our troops on US cities over the objections of their democratically elected governors and mayors. This President recently posted that Chicago will "find out why it's called the Department of War," and while he's since denied that he meant to declare war on our own citizens, make no mistake, this is dangerous. We cannot let the military become a political weapon to intimidate our communities. And I urge my Republican colleagues to wake up and stop the president and the secretary from grossly abusing his authority and abusing our military. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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