A new $32.5 billion emergency funding request from the White House calls for $10 billion in assistance for Ukraine, to include $4.8 billion for Pentagon efforts, in light of the ongoing Russian invasion.
The proposed supplemental funding package would cover $1.8 billion for U.S. military efforts to bolster support for allies in NATO’s Eastern flank, $1.25 billion for increased capability and intelligence requirements and $1.75 billion to replenish defense stocks for equipment provided to Ukraine.
“This request identifies an immediate need for $10.0 billion in additional humanitarian, security, and economic assistance for Ukraine and Central European partners due to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion. It also outlines a number of authorities needed to provide maximum flexibility in supporting Ukraine, our European allies and partners, and other emergent global needs,” Shalanda Young, the Office of Management and Budget’s acting director, wrote in a letter detailing the request.
The Biden administration is calling for the supplemental package, which is split between $10 billion for Ukraine assistance and $22.5 billion for pandemic response efforts, to be considered as Congress aims to complete full fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills ahead of the March 11 stop-gap funding deadline.
“I urge the Congress to address these critical and urgent needs as part of a comprehensive government funding bill ahead of the March 11th funding deadline,” Young writes. “The absence of full-year appropriations would continue to constrain Department of Defense (DOD) resources, readiness, and operations around the globe. The impact on readiness and operations would constrain priority efforts in Europe and also leave the U.S. more vulnerable to other potential adversaries exploiting the global situation.”
The $10 billion in requested Ukraine assistance is broken down into $4.8 billion for DoD, $5 billion for the State Department and USAID, $21 million for the Department of Commerce, $30 million for the Department of Energy, $59 million for the Department of Justice, $91 million for Department of Treasury.
“The request includes funding for DOD to support U.S. troop deployments to neighboring countries in support of broader NATO efforts, as well as to provide additional military equipment to Ukraine,” Young writes.
The $1.8 billion for direct U.S. military support would cover the deployments of units to bolster troop presence in Eastern Europe and in assistance of NATO Response Forces, while the $1.25 billion capabilities would go toward “operational surges across multiple national defense components, including accelerated cyber capabilities, weapons systems upgrades, increased intelligence support, and classified programs,” according to Young.
The $1.75 billion to replenish DoD would include $200 million for equipment already provided to Ukraine, $350 million for recently approved assistance to Ukraine and $1.2 billion to support new equipment to be transferred per assistance included in the emergency request.
Of the $5 billion included in the package for the State Department and USAID, $500 million would cover “military assistance” to support Ukraine and allies in NATO’s Eastern flank.
“This funding would provide additional support for Ukraine, and countries affected by the situation in Ukraine, including NATO Eastern flank countries, and other partners in the region, through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, to build their capacity and deter Russian aggression. Additional FMF would allow the U.S. government to support Ukraine’s and other Eastern European countries’ top security requirements,” Young writes.
Young notes that further emergency funds could be requested to support Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues to unfold.
“Given the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine, I anticipate that additional needs may arise over time. This funding request is based on the administration’s best information on resource requirements at this time, and we will remain in touch with the Congress in the coming weeks and months as we assess resource requirements beyond these immediate needs,” Young writes.
The U.S. has provided $1.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since last year.