White House tells Congress 'no magic pot' for Ukraine funds
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Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget told House leaders that there is no "magical pot of funding" and that money and time are both running out.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks to the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky during a visit to the front-line city of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The White House told Congress on Monday that unless Congress adopts its supplementary budget request, it would run out of money to give military help to Ukraine before the end of the year.
Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson and other House leaders that as more equipment is sent to Ukraine, there is no "magical pot of funding" to address the need. "We are out of money - and nearly out of time."
Young stated that, despite help from friends, US backing "cannot be replicated by others," and that abandoning it would increase the likelihood of a Russian triumph. She also stated that it aided the domestic defense industry base and US military readiness.
This comes after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said during an interview with the German Das Erste TV channel that the Ukrainian military has failed over the past several months to make any breakthroughs, but Ukraine should still be receiving unwavering support from the West.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that if Democrats participate in sensible conversations, Congress and the White House might reach a deal on Ukraine aid and border security.
Johnson expressed on X that “House Republicans have resolved that any national security supplemental package must begin with our own border. We believe both issues can be agreed upon if Senate Democrats and the White House will negotiate reasonably."
The Biden Administration has failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolving the conflict, or a plan for adequately ensuring accountability for aid provided by American taxpayers.… https://t.co/nwthjRxqyP
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) December 4, 2023
According to Johnson, the Biden administration has failed to address concerns about a lack of a clear plan for Ukraine and is neglecting the situation on the country's borders.
Disagreements over-delivering help to Ukraine and getting cash to strengthen US border security may postpone Senate approval of the supplemental spending package until next week, according to reports.
US military spending is anticipated to rise by 3.6% in the 2024 fiscal year, reaching approximately $830 billion. The Pentagon already surpasses the combined defense budgets of the world's nine next-largest nations.
Additionally, President Joe Biden has sought congressional approval for $106 billion in supplemental national security funding, including $61.4 billion in extra military aid for Ukraine. He also motioned to lift all restrictions on military weapons being sent to "Israel", eliminating the $200 million cap, and creating a free-flowing to provide any defense articles to "Israel".
As the US monetary policy is hindered by the excess of military aid overseas, worries about a governmental shutdown are looming.
