Updated One-Pager: The Biden Administration’s Ukraine Supplemental
Overview
The Biden administration recently announced a $33 billion supplemental spending request to fund “critical security and economic assistance to Ukraine.” Congress introduced a $40 billion draft mid-afternoon on May 10 with legislative language outlining the additional spending measures beyond the original White House request. Furthermore, it is worth noting that this spending bill is in addition to the $14 billion already provided to Ukraine in the March 2022 omnibus.
Breakdown: Ukraine Supplemental Outline
The spending request to Congress issued by the White House contained myriad provisions that included a pathway to citizenship for Afghan refugees and authorization for the Department of Treasury to lend $21 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “promote a more secure global economy.”
The draft text released by Congress includes the following items:
- Some $20.4 billion in direct military and security assistance including $6 billion for the Ukraine Assistance Security Initiative, $8.7 billion in so-called “drawdown authority” that allows President Biden to immediately transfer equipment from Department of Defense (DOD) stocks in response to an “unforeseen emergency” without congressional approval, and $4 billion for the Foreign Military Assistance program run out of the State Department.
- Nearly $4.4 billion in funding to the United States Agency for International Development is ostensibly aimed at providing direct assistance to nations impacted by food shortages as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is $3.6 billion more than originally requested by the White House.
- Authorization for direct foreign military financing to Ukraine and “countries impacted by Ukraine” until September 30, 2024.
- Some $8.5 billion of spending to “support democracy” in Ukraine by directly funding the Ukrainian government’s various social services.
- Some $400 million in to collect evidence of Russian war crimes and to combat human trafficking.
- Some $1.3 billion for the United for Ukraine program to provide medical supplies and social services for Ukrainian refugees.
- Another $67 million for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue U.S. governmental efforts designed to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs.
Concluding Assessment
The Ukraine supplemental includes nearly $7 billion more in direct spending than originally requested by the White House. While the legislation appears to no longer include a pathway to citizenship for Afghan nationals, it does authorize direct military assistance and intervention in Ukraine through the end of FY2024, leaving the United States on the hook for increased involvement in the war through the remainder of President Biden’s term in office.
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