Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

McCarthy says adding $6.2 billion for Ukraine in US spending 'wrong'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Sep 2023 15:53
5 Min Read

US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy argues against the US government giving further aid to Ukraine, let alone allocating $6.2 billion for Kiev.

  • x
  • House Speaker Kevin McCarthy talks to reporters just after voting to advance appropriations bills on the House floor, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 26, 2023
    House Speaker Kevin McCarthy talks to reporters just after voting to advance appropriations bills on the House floor, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP)

As the clock ticks down to the September 30 deadline to fund the US government, lawmakers in Congress are scrambling to reach an agreement on a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown.

The Democrat-controlled Senate and the Republican-led House have put forward their respective plans, and a heated debate has emerged, centered on whether to include substantial aid for Ukraine in the funding package.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has taken a firm stance against the inclusion of Ukrainian aid worth billions of dollars in a short-term funding bill.

McCarthy asserted that it is "wrong" to prioritize Ukrainian assistance over addressing domestic concerns. "They're picking Ukraine over Americans," McCarthy criticized during a press conference, highlighting his reservations about the Senate's bipartisan government funding proposal.

"If they want to put focus on Ukraine and not focus on the southern border, I think their priorities are backward," McCarthy said, voicing concerns about the Senate's priorities.

The Senate's proposal, known as the Continuing Appropriations Act, aims to fund the federal government until November 17, providing more time for lawmakers to pass comprehensive spending bills.

Notably, the Senate's Continuing Resolution (CR) includes over $6 billion in military and economic aid for Ukraine, a substantial decrease from the $24 billion in funding initially requested by President Joe Biden in August. An additional $6 billion is designated for natural disaster funding.

Notably absent from the Senate's bill is any provision for increased border security, a key point of contention between the two chambers.

While McCarthy stopped short of confirming whether the Senate-passed bill would be put to a vote in the House, he announced his intention to present the House's short-term spending bill, which includes funding for border security, for consideration by Saturday.

Related News

Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female Prime Minister

Maduro says late Pope Francis warned him of US death threat

McCarthy defended this approach, stating, "I think that's the appropriate way to be able to keep government funding, secure our border, while we continue to keep the government open to work on the rest of the appropriations process."

Additionally, McCarthy indicated that the House's spending measure would adhere to a lower spending level than the $1.59 trillion previously agreed upon during the debt ceiling dispute in May. The lower spending threshold reflects the ongoing debate between the parties over the size and scope of government expenditures.

Race against time

Leaders from both sides of the aisle in Congress have been racing against time to pass a short-term funding extension, aiming to prevent a government shutdown and maintain essential services. However, the success of this plan remains uncertain due to deep-seated divisions over spending priorities and policy disagreements, particularly concerning aid to Ukraine.

Read more: 41% of Americans critical of US aid to Ukraine: Post-ABC poll

Government funding is set to expire at the stroke of midnight on Saturday, September 30, marking the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. If Congress fails to enact legislation to renew funding by this deadline, the federal government will cease non-essential operations and services at midnight. The full impact of the shutdown is expected to become evident at the start of the work week on Monday.

In the event of a government shutdown, many federal operations and services will grind to a halt, except for those categorized as essential.

Federal agencies maintain contingency plans that outline which activities will continue and which will be suspended. Critical functions like border protection, federal law enforcement, and air traffic control are expected to carry on.

"If you’re a government worker, it’s highly disruptive — whether you’re not going to work or whether you are," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

"If you're somebody who wants to use one of the services that you can’t get access to … it’s highly disruptive. But for many people … all the things that they are expecting and used to seeing of government are still happening and the inconveniences and the kind of wasted time and wasted resources aren’t things that they see and feel directly."

Read more: Biden warns GOP extremists: Government shutdown a threat to all

The White House, meanwhile, issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences of a shutdown. The administration estimates that 10,000 children would lose access to Head Start programs (free learning and development services), air traffic controllers and transportation security officers would work without pay, causing travel delays, and food safety inspections by the Food and Drug Administration would also be delayed.

  • United States
  • Congress
  • Kevin McCarthy
  • Ukraine Funding
  • Senate
  • Ukraine
  • House of Representatives
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, killing seven Palestinians.

Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, kills seven Palestinians

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK blocks release of documents on secretive Lammy-Sa’ar meeting.
Politics

UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

Colombia slams Trump’s drug accusation, defends sovereignty
Politics

Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims, defends sovereignty

The abuse was detailed in Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." (AP)
Politics

Epstein victim recounts choking, sexual assault by 'well-known PM'

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand near the airport President Donald Trump uses in Florida. (US Secret Service)
Politics

FBI probes hunting stand with sightline to Trump’s Air Force One exit

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS