White House warns Congress nearly ‘out of time’ on Ukraine funds
President Joe Biden’s budget director warned Monday that the United States would run completely out of resources to assist Ukraine by the end of the calendar year, as the White House looks to ratchet up pressure on lawmakers to pass an emergency funding package.
“There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment,” Shalanda Young, who leads the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. “We are out of money — and nearly out of time.”
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A failure to act, Young warned, would “kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories.”
Ukraine assistance has become a flashpoint on Capitol Hill, with new House Speaker Mike Johnson insisting that additional aid is contingent on immigration policy changes. Johnson said Monday that the Biden administration had failed to address House Republicans’ “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.”
In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Johnson said any additional national security funding “must begin with our own border.”
“We believe both issues can be agreed upon if Senate Democrats and the White House will negotiate reasonably,” he added.
The White House is seeking over $61 billion for Ukraine aid as part of a roughly $105 billion package that would also include funding for Israel’s war against Hamas, U.S. allies in the Pacific and money to house and process undocumented immigrants along the border with Mexico.
Republicans are hoping the Ukraine funding fight can provide leverage as they seek to tighten access to asylum for those entering the U.S. But negotiations on a sweeping immigration agreement are yet to yield results, with the Senate expected to depart for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 15.
“It’s going to take the administration recognizing that their policy needs to change,” Chairman Mike Turner said.
