A bicameral group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the White House rejecting President Joe Biden’s request for additional aid to Ukraine, arguing there hasn’t been enough transparency about how funding has been spent.
A group of 29 GOP senators and members sent the letter to White House Budget Director Shalanda Young on Thursday, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit with congressional leaders to lobby for increased aid. The letter comes in response to a request from the White House last month for an additional $24 billion in aid that is not connected to the country’s annual spending bill — a request that has put both chambers at odds as they attempt to avert a government shutdown.
The letter is being led by Sen. J.D. Vance in the Senate and Rep. Chip Roy in the House, who have both been outspoken about U.S. funding to Ukraine, especially with the backdrop of a looming government shutdown. A total of 29 Republicans signed on to the letter, representing a small percentage of the total number of GOP lawmakers in Congress, making it unclear how much support there is among the party to support Ukraine.
Since the invasion began in February 2022, Congress has approved roughly $114 billion in military assistance to go toward supplemental funding for Ukraine, as well as other countries affected by the war, the lawmakers wrote. However, it’s not entirely clear how all the money has been spent, prompting criticism from several conservatives who have called for a cease in financial aid.
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