GOP demands answers from Austin on US aid to Ukraine after watchdog details failed weapons tracking

Congressional Republicans are demanding answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about the use of U.S. military assistance in Ukraine following a Defense Department Inspector General's report finding that the Pentagon failed to track weapons and other supplies going to the war-torn European nation. 

Ohio Sen. JD Vance joined more than two dozen House Republicans, including Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, Ky., in a letter Tuesday to Austin demanding answers about U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance to Ukraine.

"It is vital that DoD works to ensure weapons and other forms of security assistance are used for their intended purposes, that they do not fall into the hands of our enemies, and that the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse is mitigated," the lawmakers said in their letter to Austin.

The legislators are demanding Austin provide documents and communications with Ukraine regarding military assistance dating back to the day Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. Austin's deadline to provide the documents is in less than two weeks. 

"DoD’s failures in tracking sensitive military equipment provided to Ukraine are unacceptable," the lawmakers also said. 

The investigation comes after the inspector general found that more than $1 billion worth of sensitive military equipment is unable to be tracked. 

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