WASHINGTON – President Biden’s staff confirmed Friday that he is asking Congress for much larger aid for Ukraine by tying it to a smaller, more popular spending request for Israel after Hamas terrorists massacred 1,400 people in a surprise attack this month.
On Thursday night, Biden used his second prime-time Oval Office speech since taking office to urge passage of the combined package, which the White House confirmed Friday morning would be $14.3 billion for Israel. , only a quarter of the $61.4 billion it seeks for Ukraine.
Another $30.1 billion would go toward other projects, bringing the total to nearly $106 billion.
The smaller requests include $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid, of which Biden advisers said a yet-to-be-determined amount would go to helping Palestinian civilians affected by the expected Israeli invasion of Gaza, where about 200 hostages, including Some Americans are still being held by Hamas.
Polls show growing public opposition to aid to Ukraine and Biden’s attempt to merge the two big requests drew criticism this week from Senate Republicans who said they wanted quick approval of aid to Israel and a more circumspect approach toward greater aid to Ukraine.
President Biden’s staff confirmed Friday that he is asking Congress for much larger aid for Ukraine by tying it to a smaller, more popular spending request for Israel.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Congress did not approve Biden’s request in August for $20.6 billion for Ukraine, after lawmakers previously approved $113 billion to counter the stalled February 2022 Russian invasion.
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The Biden administration is still disbursing funds already approved, but says they could run out soon.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and budget director Shalanda Young did not address the wide gap in funding requests between Israel and Ukraine during a press conference.
Congress did not approve Biden’s request in August for $20.6 billion for Ukraine after lawmakers previously approved $113 billion to counter the 2022 Russian invasion. ZUMAPRESS.com Biden used his second prime-time speech at the Office Oval to urge approval of the combined package, which would be $14.3 billion for Israel, just a quarter of the $61.4 billion it seeks for Ukraine. AP
Although Biden argued Thursday night that the spending was necessary to prevent even worse regional wars, Sullivan and Young also asserted that the spending was important to the U.S. economy by boosting weapons manufacturers, an argument that may be designed to address concern about the American national debt. after the annual deficit hit a non-pandemic record in fiscal 2023, which ended Sept. 30.
“The supplemental request invests more than $50 billion in the American defense industrial base, ensuring our military remains the most ready, capable and best-equipped fighting force in the world,” Young said.
Sullivan added: “The work we are doing to grow our military-industrial base by manufacturing more artillery shells, Patriot missiles and more is supporting jobs across the country.”
Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko pays his respects at the coffin of Serhiy Ikonnikov, commander of the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, who died fighting Russian troops during the attack on Ukraine. REUTERS Polls show growing public opposition to aid to Ukraine, and Biden’s attempt to merge the two big requests drew criticism from Senate Republicans, according to reports. ZUMAPRESS.com
Young dodged a reporter’s question about how much of the humanitarian aid would go to the Palestinians, after Biden this week pledged $100 million to residents of Gaza and the West Bank affected by the conflict.
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A White House spreadsheet says Biden’s request to Israel includes $10.6 billion for “air and missile defense support, investments in industrial bases, and Department of Defense stockpile replenishment” and “$3.7 billion for the State Department, including foreign military financing and embassy support.”
Sullivan declined to specify in more detail what weapons are requested.
A White House spreadsheet says Biden’s request to Israel includes $10.6 billion for “air and missile defense support, investments in industrial bases, and replenishment of Department of Defense stockpiles.” HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Israeli soldiers patrol alongside communities near the border between Israel and Gaza, in southern Israel, on Friday, October 20, 2023. AP
Ukraine’s request includes $30 billion for “Ukraine equipment and Department of Defense stockpile replenishment,” $14.4 billion “for continued military, intelligence and defense support,” $16.3 billion “for the Department State and USAID for economic, operational and security assistance, $481 million to support Ukrainians migrating to the United States and $149 million for “response to nuclear/radiological incidents.”
The smaller requests appear designed to bolster support for the overall package, including $3.4 billion for the U.S. “underwater industrial base,” which is a major employer in certain congressional districts.
Other smaller requests include $2 billion for the Treasury Department to “provide a credible alternative” to Chinese financing in other countries, $2 billion for State Department military financing for countries bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and $13.6 billion for the United States border and migration. operations, including $1.9 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to support admitted immigrants, $1.4 billion for state and local governments to provide “shelter and services to immigrants released from DHS custody,” and $1.4 billion for more immigration judges.
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