US President Biden asks Congress to extend USD 6 billion in aid to Ukraine for next fiscal year

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has sent a request to Congress to extend the term of the presidential drawdown authority (PDA). This will allow military aid to Ukraine to continue after the end of the fiscal year in September.

It was reported by The Hill portal.

It said the request must be included in a resolution to continue funding the U.S. government beyond September 30, when the fiscal year ends.

Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said that the U.S. has USD 5.9 billion left for Ukraine as part of the presidential mandate, and these funds, in addition to USD 100 million, will expire at the end of the fiscal year, that is, on September 30.

The Biden administration used presidential authority to quickly ship weapons to Ukraine directly through Defense Department stockpiles. Funds allocated by Congress are directed to the evaluation of military equipment transferred to Ukraine and replenishment of U.S. stockpiles. Aid to Ukraine is often given in batches of hundreds of millions of dollars to avoid depleting the Pentagon's stockpile and to allow time for replenishment.

As The Hill notes, if Congress passes Biden's USD 5.8 billion resolution, it would allow the White House to continue sending military aid to Ukraine in small batches several times a month.

A congressional official explained to the publication that the Biden administration could also announce that it is providing Ukraine with USD 5.8 billion in military aid by October 1, and then use the rest of the year to send equipment. However, this is a less attractive option.

According to the interlocutor, there will be some legal problems with the distribution of funds, and the White House is concerned that there may not be the authority to authorize the transfer of ammunition that is not currently in stock.

The Hill adds that the expansion is unlikely to face opposition over temporary funding.