White House warns Congress Ukraine aid near depleted, urges members to pass Biden's $61B request

The White House on Monday warned that it will run out of money to aid Ukraine's fight against Russia if Congress does not act by the end of the year as the Biden administration asks for another $61 billion for the war-torn nation.

Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young wrote to lawmakers that the government has used nearly all of its roughly $111 billion in aid allocated to Ukraine, according to The Hill.

Additionally, Young wrote that about $50 billion of the requested $61 billion would go toward bolstering the U.S. defense industrial base and that 60% of the existing Ukraine aid has already supported U.S. companies that are manufacturing weapons for Ukraine and filling domestic stockpiles. 

The White House proposed a $106 billion aid package in October that, in addition to allocating about $61 billion for Ukraine, would also give Israel $14.3 billion, the U.S.-Mexico border $14 billion and about $10 billion for humanitarian aid.

Young also wrote that the Pentagon has already used about 97% of the $62.3 in Ukraine aid it received as of mid-November and that the State Department completely spent all of its $4.7 billion in military assistance it has received. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said late last month that he is confident the House will pass the aid packages.

Meanwhile, Ukraine aid is still unpopular amongst Republicans. About 59% of Republicans said in a survey late last month that the U.S. is spending too much on aid for Ukraine.

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