Billions of dollars set aside for Ukraine are at risk of expiring at the end of the month if Congress does not take action, as warned by the Biden administration. Approximately 10% of the $61 billion allocated for Ukraine in April remains unused, and the White House is urging Congress to extend its Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to continue providing aid to Ukraine beyond the September 30 deadline.
The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, stated that there is $5.9 billion remaining in the Ukraine Presidential Drawdown Authority, with most of it set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Department of Defense is working with Congress to seek an extension of the PDA authorities.
The Biden administration has requested Congress to include an extension of the authority in a continuing resolution, which is crucial for keeping the government funded and operational in fiscal year 2025. Despite this, some Republican defense hawks have expressed disappointment, arguing that the resources should have been used before the deadline.
In the event that Congress does not extend the PDA, defense officials are exploring alternative ways to utilize the funding, including tapping into the $4 billion in longer-term funding through the Ukrainian Security Initiative. This funding is designated for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for over a year.
The delay in providing aid to Ukraine has been attributed to concerns about domestic readiness and a reluctance to deplete U.S. stockpiles. The administration’s request for more time to spend money on Ukraine marks a significant shift from their previous appeals for additional funds to support the country.
Overall, the situation highlights the challenges and complexities surrounding the allocation and distribution of aid to Ukraine, as well as the ongoing efforts to support the country in its conflict against Russia. El líder de la mayoría del Senado, Chuck Schumer, del Partido Demócrata de Nueva York, ha estado instando a Johnson a trabajar con él en un acuerdo CR bipartidista a corto plazo, pero aún no ha pasado ningún acuerdo de gastos en el Senado. Schumer probablemente priorizaría la extensión del financiamiento a Ucrania, aunque no pudo ser contactado para comentar sobre el asunto. Los presidentes de las Comisiones de Relaciones Exteriores y Servicios Armados del Senado, Ben Cardin, demócrata de Maryland, y Jack Reed, demócrata de Rhode Island, dijeron a Fox News Digital que apoyan la medida. El líder de la mayoría de la Cámara de Representantes, Steve Scalise, republicano de Luisiana, sugirió que tal propuesta tendría que comenzar en el Senado. “Realmente no se puede tener una negociación cuando solo un lado está poniendo ideas sobre la mesa”, dijo. “El Senado realmente necesita poner algo sobre la mesa rápidamente. ¿Por qué quieren esperar hasta la hora de la medianoche para empezar a hacer su trabajo?”