Pentagon officials urged Congress to approve a supplemental funding package deal on Thursday, as a result of in the end, they mentioned, the cash the Division of Protection can pull down shortly to help Ukraine will dwindle, forcing leaders to make robust decisions about funding the U.S.’s personal readiness.
Department of Defense spokesman Air Pressure Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder advised reporters on Thursday that supplemental funding is important to supply extra help to Ukraine going into 2024.
“We’ve got about…$4.4 billion left, I think now, with the most [Presidential Drawdown Authority] and about $1 billion left in replenishment funds,” Ryder mentioned. “Actually, we do retain the choice to spend the $4.4 [billion].
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Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik/File)
“However these are robust decisions, as a result of in the end, on the finish of the day, we begin to should make choices about our personal readiness and about our means to proceed to help Ukraine in the way they must be supported on the battlefield,” he added. “So, once more, because of this we’re urging Congress to go that supplemental [funding] as shortly as doable.”
Ryder opened up the press briefing saying the division applauds Congress’s passage of the bipartisan Nationwide Protection Authorization Act.
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Congress passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images/File)
The legislation, he said, authorizes a 5.2% pay increase for service members and civilian employees in the Pentagon, while also providing investments in America’s national security and military to meet the challenges of the 21st century. But he called on Congress to do more.
“We proceed to urge Congress to pass our pressing supplemental funds request to assist stand by our companions and to put money into our protection industrial base,” Ryder mentioned.
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President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walk in Kyiv, Ukraine, earlier this year. (Reuters/Gleb Garanich/File )
As of Thursday, lawmakers had not reached a deal on the supplemental package.
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Talks have been ongoing with senators and Biden administration officials this week, as Republicans have refused to pass some $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine unless it is tied to strict border security measures, such as immediate screenings for asylum processing and quicker expulsions for illegal entrants.
The total amount of supplemental aid the White House first requested in October amounts to roughly $106 billion and includes $14 billion to assist Israel.
Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
