WASHINGTON – President Biden’s staff confirmed on Friday that he is asking Congress for greater aid to Ukraine in favor of a smaller, more popular spending request for Israel after Hamas terrorists killed 1,400 people in a surprise attack this month.
Biden on Thursday night used his second premier Oval Office address since taking office to urge approval of the coalition package, which the White House confirmed Friday morning was $14.3 billion for Israel — just a quarter of the $61.4 billion he sought for Ukraine.
Another $30.1 billion will be used for various other projects, bringing the total to nearly $106 billion.
Smaller requests include $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid, of which a Biden aide said an unspecified amount would go to help Palestinian civilians affected by Israel’s expected incursion into Gaza, where about 200 hostages including several Americans remain held. by Hamas.
Polls show growing public opposition to Ukraine aid and Biden’s attempt to block the two big requests drew criticism this week from Senate Republicans who said they wanted prompt approval of Israeli aid and a more cautious approach to further aid to Ukraine.
President Biden’s staff confirmed on Friday that he is asking Congress for greater aid to Ukraine by giving it to a smaller and 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 Russia’s stalled invasion in February 2022.
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest news on Hamas attacks on Israel
The Biden administration is still disbursing approved funds but says it will run out soon.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and budget director Shalanda Young did not address the large gap in funding requests between Israel and Ukraine during the press call.
Congress did not approve Biden’s request in August for $20.6 billion for Ukraine after lawmakers earlier approved $113 billion to counter Russian aggression in 2022. ZUMAPRESS.com Biden used his second inaugural Oval Office address to urge the combined package, which would be $14.3 billion for Israel, just a quarter of the $61.4 billion he sought for Ukraine. AP
While Biden argued Thursday night that the spending was needed to prevent a worse regional war, Sullivan and Young also noted that the spending was important to the US economy by bolstering arms manufacturers — an argument that may have been designed to address concerns about the US national debt after the annual deficit hit non-pandemic record in fiscal 2023, which ends on September 30.
“The additional request invests more than $50 billion in America’s defense industrial base, ensuring our military continues to be the most ready, capable and well-equipped fighting force in the world,” Young said.
Sullivan added, “The work we’re doing to improve our military industrial base by producing more artillery shells, Patriot missiles and more supports jobs across the country.”
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko paid his respects at the coffin of Serhiy Ikonnikov, a commander of the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, who was killed in a battle with Russian troops during the invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS Polls show growing public opposition to Ukraine aid, and Biden’s attempt to block the two big requests drew criticism from Senate Republicans, according to reports. ZUMAPRESS.com
Young brushed off reporters’ questions about how much humanitarian aid would go to the Palestinians – after Biden this week pledged $100 million to Gaza and West Bank residents affected by the conflict.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas
The White House spreadsheet says Biden’s Israeli request includes $10.6 billion for “air and missile defense support, industrial base investment and DOD restocking” and “$3.7 billion for the State Department, including foreign military funding and embassy support.”
Sullivan declined to elaborate on what weapons were requested.
A White House spreadsheet says Biden’s Israel request includes $10.6 billion for “air and missile defense support, industrial base investment and DOD restocking.” HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Israeli soldiers patrol next to a community near the Israel-Gaza border, southern Israel, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. AP
Ukraine’s request includes $30 billion for “equipment for Ukraine and DOD restocking,” $14.4 billion “for continued military, intelligence and other defense support,” $16.3 billion “for the State Department and USAID for economic, security and operational assistance,” $481 million to support Ukrainians immigrating to the US and $149 million for “nuclear/radiological incident response.”
The smaller request appears designed to boost support for the overall package, which includes $3.4 billion for America’s “submarine industrial base,” which is an important employer in certain congressional districts.
Other smaller requests include $2 billion for the Treasury Department to “provide credible alternatives” to Chinese funding in other countries, $2 billion for State Department military funding for countries bordering the Pacific and Indian oceans, and $13.6 billion for borders and migration USA. 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 for immigrants released from DHS custody” and $1.4 billion for more immigration judges.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
