The Pentagon has confirmed that the remaining $5.8 billion allocated for Ukraine will be used, but action from Congress is required to extend President Joe Biden’s authority to allocate these funds beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
According to Deputy Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the Department of Defense is seeking an extension from Congress to ensure that the remaining military support funds for Ukraine can be utilized after the fiscal year ends.
Singh emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the Pentagon cannot currently provide additional military aid because it lacks the resources to replenish its own combat reserves. “We are actively planning to recover the amount that remains within the scope of new importance for Ukraine,” Singh said.
The spokesperson highlighted that while Congress was working on passing a large-scale aid package for Ukraine, the Pentagon was unable to restore its own stockpiles. This delay has hampered the US’s ability to immediately provide military assistance. Singh reiterated that the Department of Defense is working closely with Congress to extend Biden’s authority and ensure all leftover funds are available for Ukraine.
“We intend to maximize every dollar and every cent,” Singh added, stressing the importance of using all remaining funds for Ukraine’s defense needs.
However, the Pentagon cannot immediately offer new military aid as it is focused on replenishing its own reserves to maintain combat readiness. Singh noted that this gap emerged because while Congress was approving aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon was not in a position to restock its military resources.
Congress, Singh emphasized, is united in its bipartisan commitment to fully support Ukraine.
