Biden’s defense supplemental adds to government shutdown battle.
President Biden’s Supplemental Request Sets Up Spending Showdown
President Joe Biden’s new supplemental request for approximately $40 billion is causing a stir among lawmakers as they gear up for a spending showdown this fall. The request, aimed at providing additional assistance for Ukraine, funding for border policies, and disaster recovery efforts, is already sparking controversy.
Emergency Funding Needs
The supplemental request, which senior administration officials say is necessary for the first quarter of 2024, includes several key allocations. These include $24 billion for Ukraine, $4 billion for southern border and immigration operations, $12 billion to replenish the Department of Homeland Security’s disaster relief fund, and $60 million to boost firefighter pay.
Republican Opposition
The request is already facing opposition from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and other Republicans in the Republican-led House. They have made it clear that they will not approve aid to Ukraine for the next fiscal year. Hard-line House conservatives, who hold significant influence over the spending process, are pushing for bills with reduced spending to win over their support.
“No. This should be a non-starter for the House GOP,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). “It’s time to stand up for Americans and against the uniparty.”
While the request may gain some bipartisan support, at least one senior GOP member has expressed doubts about Republicans having enough votes to pass a Ukraine supplemental without Democratic help.
Time is Running Out
Time is of the essence for lawmakers to approve funding before the existing U.S. aid for Ukraine runs out by the end of September. Congress has already approved $113 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, but funding for Ukraine has decreased in popularity among House Republicans in recent months.
Bipartisan Support in the Senate
Senators on both sides of the aisle appear more inclined to support President Biden’s request. The debt ceiling deal passed in June limited Pentagon spending for the next two years, which was a contentious issue for defense hawks. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has expressed the need for supplemental aid to Ukraine and has criticized the defense spending levels in the new debt limit law.
“The defense number is totally inadequate to meet the challenges that we have in Asia, not to mention Ukraine,” McConnell said during a press conference. “It’s a problem. It’s a serious problem that hopefully we’ll find some way over the course of the year to address.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also supports President Biden’s request and anticipates challenges in reconciling the funding requests between the two chambers.
Deadline Approaching
Lawmakers have approximately three weeks to pass a federal budget before the September 30 deadline. Budget disagreements often drag out, with a final deal reached at the last minute. If an agreement cannot be reached, lawmakers may resort to passing a continuing resolution to maintain current funding levels while negotiations continue. However, some hard-line conservatives are not ruling out a government shutdown to push for the budget’s passage.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...