Congress approved a temporary funding bill in a last-minute move, averting an imminent government shutdown. The move, however, came with a price: a cutback on the pledged financial support to Ukraine.
Amid initial efforts by Republicans to trim non-defense expenditure and enforce rigorous immigration protocols, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) pivoted early Saturday. He introduced an interim funding measure echoing the bipartisan sentiment in the Senate. The catch? A stark omission of $6 billion was initially designated for Ukraine.
This financial strategy guarantees that military personnel and the employees of the Defense Department will not miss their paychecks, preventing a furlough that could have impacted hundreds of thousands. However, eyebrows are raised over Congress' decision, particularly when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to Capitol Hill resonates. Zelenskyy fervently appealed for enhanced aid, emphasizing that the fate of the ongoing conflict hinges on external support.
This bridging measure, which ensures the government's operation until November 17, sailed through the House with a 335-91 majority. Following suit, the Senate endorsed the bill with an 88-9 vote.
However, the Pentagon's coffers seem strained. Currently, no financial provisions exist for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Furthermore, the remaining $1.5 billion designated for replenishing U.S. weapons stocks dispatched to Kyiv will lapse on September 30. However, an unexpected silver lining appears in the form of prior accounting oversight, leaving the Pentagon with an unexpected $5.5 billion to continue weapon transfers to Ukraine beyond this fiscal year.
In August, the White House's call to Congress for an augmented $24 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine met with resistance. The Senate, typically supportive of Ukrainian aid, revised this amount to $6 billion. This sum comprised funds to restock U.S. armaments and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
The adjusted $6 billion tag, however, remained contentious for McCarthy. Even as a notable portion of the House favors Ukrainian aid, opposition is mounting within the Republican segment. Recent legislative proceedings saw GOP leaders retracting $300 million intended for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative from the defense bill. This shift allowed the bill's passage, predominantly with intra-party support. In a subsequent move, a 311-117 majority in the House channeled those above $300 million for Ukraine to the Senate. Nevertheless, in an unexpected turn, several Republicans, formerly supportive in July, withdrew their backing.
This reshuffling facilitated the Senate's swift passage of the provisional funding bill. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a vocal opponent of the Ukrainian aid in the bill, had been stalling votes. With the aid's removal, his objections were quelled.
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Though the Defense Department dodged the dire implications of a shutdown, these interim bills are not without their shackles. Recent testimonies, like that of Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, underscored the Navy's looming challenge. Pivotal shipbuilding programs hang in the balance without the total fiscal 2024 defense bill. The temporary funding does grant a special provision for the Columbia-class submarine's procurement. However, other significant naval projects remain in limbo.
If the total budget remains elusive into the following year, the stipulations from May's debt ceiling accord kick in. Federal entities, including the Defense Department, will operate under a one-year continued resolution, subject to a 1% budgetary cut for FY24.