The White House asked lawmakers Approval of $10 billion in deadly and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as part of a $32.5 billion emergency funding request sent to Capitol Hill as Russia continues its advance toward Ukraine.
The request comes after weeks of discussions between White House officials and the lawmaker about what any potential emergency request would look like, which was expected to focus heavily on Covid-19 needs. But the escalating Russian invasion has significantly increased the demand for Ukraine specifically.
Lawmakers are in the midst of negotiating a long-term financing deal and face a March 11 deadline to reach an agreement.
Ukrainian funds are expected to be tied to any final deal, but the process remains liquid.
“This request identifies the urgent need for $10.0 billion in additional humanitarian, security and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners due to the unprovoked and unprovoked Russian invasion,” an official request sent Wednesday from Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young to Congressional Leadership says.
Young suggested that the initial $10 billion request for Ukraine would meet “immediate needs” and more funding might be needed.
“Given the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine, I anticipate that additional needs will arise over time. This funding request is based on management’s best information about resource requirements at this time, and we will remain in contact with Congress in the coming weeks and months as we assess resource requirements in excess of these needs. urgent.
More on the funding request: The detailed request provides $4.8 billion for the Department of Defense, including $1.8 billion for support in the region where U.S. military units support the U.S. European Command and NATO Response Force, $1.3 billion for cybersecurity and other defense support systems, and $1.8 billion to renovate the Department of Defense. Stores. It is also calling for $5 billion for the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including $2.8 billion in humanitarian assistance such as food and other support, $500 million in military assistance through the Foreign Military Financing Program, and $1.8 billion in Economic aid. Assistance to help “support the continuity of government and the resilience of the Ukrainian people, as well as emerging needs in the region.”
The request also provides $21 million for the Department of Commerce to strengthen export controls, $30 million for the Department of Energy to provide “technical assistance for electrical grid integration,” $59 million for the Department of Justice to support the newly announced KleptoCapture Task Force on Russia Sanctions and other funding for the multinational task force. , and $91 million for the Treasury to support penalties and criminal investigations at the IRS, among other expenses.
