Ukraine (Washington Insider Magazine) —President Joe Biden’s administration is asking Congress for $115 billion for national security purposes, including funds for Ukraine and Israel.
$61.4 billion dollars would be allocated to Ukraine, while $14.3 billion would be allocated to Israel; The rest of the resources would be for different military and security programs, such as actions on the border with Mexico and the strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
Shalanda D. Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said in a conference call with reporters that $50 billion will be allocated to the arms industry.
“This supplemental request invests more than $50 billion in the American defense industrial base, ensuring our military remains the most ready, capable and best-equipped fighting force the world has ever seen,” she said.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the need for the funds for the US to help its allies, due to the impact that the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine have on national security.
“[There is a] global turning point following the terrorist attacks against our ally Israel, which claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people, including 31 Americans, and as the people of Ukraine continue to fight every day for their freedom and independence against Russian brutality,” he said.
The package includes $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, Israel and Ukraine.
It is unclear when the funds could be approved, because the House of Representatives does not have an official speaker.
Resources for Israel
The $14.3 billion for Israel, $10.6 billion would be allocated to the Department of Defense (DOD), for “support for air and anti-missile defense, investments in industrial bases, and replenishment of DOD stocks,” adds a document distributed by the White House. .
Another $3.7 billion would go to the State Department.
Aid for Ukraine
$61.4 billion would go to Volodimir Zelensky’s government, of which $30 billion would be administered by the DOD for military equipment; while $14.4 billion would be for military, intelligence and other defense strategy support to Ukraine.
Another $16.3 billion would go to the State Department and USAID to ensure economic, security and operational assistance to Ukraine.
Also $481 million will go to Ukrainian refugees in the US and $149 million for response to nuclear/radiological incidents and capacity building.
This article is originally published on eldiariony.com