Biden makes last-ditch ask of Congress for $24 billion to help Ukraine: report

On his way out of the White House, President Biden is reportedly making a last-minute plea to Congress for $24 billion in aid for war-torn Ukraine to bolster its military support and replenish US stocks that had dwindled.The White House Office of Management and Budget suggested that Congress could fold the renewed aid into its solution to avert a government shutdown next month, according to a request obtained by Politico Pro.Several lawmakers saw the proposal Monday and it features $8 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to fund US company contracts to arm Kyiv and $16 billion to refill US weaponry stock, per the report.Already, some Republicans cried foul over the reported ask.“Joe Biden just gave away 4.7 billion in your taxpayer dollars by unilaterally “forgiving” loans to Ukraine.Congress must not give him a free gift to further sabotage President Trump’s peace negotiations on the way out the door.

Any Biden funding demands should be DOA,” Sen.Mike Lee (R-Utah) posted on X.Last week, the Biden administration informed Congress of its intention to also forgive $4.65 billion worth of Ukrainian debt.“President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” earlier this month.“The threat to Ukraine will remain no matter what exactly happens on the battlefield or at the negotiating table, and the United States should not walk away from its commitment, either to Ukraine or to 50 nations that we have rallied in defense of Ukraine in both Europe and Asia.”US lawmakers last passed a major tranche of aid to the beleaguered ally back in April, nearly nine months after Biden’s first request in August of last year.

After the lower chamber wrangled through the $61 billion Ukraine aid, that was nestled in a larger $95 billion package, Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) moved to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-L...