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The White House has asked lawmakers to authorize $10 billion in lethal and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as part of a $32.5 billion emergency funding request to Capitol Hill while Russia continues its advance on Ukraine continues.
The request follows weeks of discussions between White House officials and lawmakers over the form of a possible emergency request, which was expected to focus heavily on Covid-19 needs. But the escalating Russian invasion has dramatically increased the scope of the request specifically for Ukraine.
Lawmakers are in the midst of negotiations for a long-term funding deal and need to reach an agreement by March 11.
The Ukrainian funds are expected to be attached to any final deal, but the process remains fluid.
“This request indicates an immediate need for additional $10.0 billion in humanitarian, security and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners due to the unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Russia,” the formal request reads. which was sent Wednesday by Shalanda Young, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, to Says the convention leadership.
Young suggested that the initial $10 billion request for Ukraine would meet “immediate needs” and more funds may be needed.
“Given the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine, I anticipate that additional needs will arise over time. This funding request is based on the administration’s best information at this time of resource needs, and we will remain in touch with Congress over the coming weeks and months as we assess resource needs beyond these immediate needs,” she said.
More on the grant application: The detailed request provides $4.8 billion for the Department of Defense, including $1.8 billion for support in the region as US military units support US European Command and the NATO Response Force, $1.3 billion US$ for cybersecurity and other defense support and US$1.8 billion for replenishing the Department of Defense stockpile. It also calls for $5 billion for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including $2.8 billion in humanitarian assistance such as food and other assistance, $500 million in military assistance through the Foreign Military Financing Program and $1.8 billion in economic funding support to “support the continuity of government and the resilience of the Ukrainian people, as well as emerging needs in the region.”
The motion also calls for $21 million for the Commerce Department to strengthen export controls, $30 million for the Energy Department to provide “technical assistance for power grid integration,” and $59 million for the Justice Department to support a newly announced Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce sanctions on Russia and other funds for the Multinational Task Force and $91 million for the Treasury Department for sanctions support and IRS criminal investigations, among other expenses.