Congress Faces Deadline on Ukraine’s $6B Military Funding

Ukraine war funding deadline/ U.S. weapons aid to Ukraine/ Pentagon military aid expiration/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ Nearly $6 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine is set to expire by the end of the month unless Congress acts to extend the Pentagon’s authority to provide military assistance. The Biden administration has requested an extension of funding in any continuing resolution to avoid a gap in support. If Congress fails to act, Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russia could face significant setbacks.

Ukraine Military Funding Expiration – Quick Looks

• Nearly $6 billion in U.S. funding for Ukraine’s military aid will expire on Sept. 30 without congressional action.
• The Biden administration is urging lawmakers to extend the Pentagon’s authority to send weapons from its stockpile to Ukraine.
• The Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows fast shipments of weapons, is at risk of expiration, while $4 billion in longer-term funding remains available until 2025.
• If Congress fails to act, Ukraine’s ability to defend its critical infrastructure, especially during winter, could be hindered.
• Delays in previous funding caused severe setbacks on the battlefield, and another gap could allow Russia to make further gains.

Congress Faces Deadline on Ukraine’s $6B Military Funding

Deep Look

Nearly $6 billion in U.S. military aid to Ukraine is set to expire at the end of this month unless Congress takes action to extend the Pentagon’s authority to continue sending weapons to Kyiv. U.S. officials have warned that the Biden administration needs Congress to include the necessary funding provisions in any continuing resolution passed to prevent a government shutdown and fund federal agencies into the next fiscal year.

The looming expiration would cut off $5.8 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the Pentagon to quickly send weapons directly from U.S. military stockpiles to Ukraine. While an additional $100 million in PDA would remain available, this amount pales in comparison to the overall need. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Pentagon is exploring alternative funding options if Congress fails to act, but details on these contingencies remain unclear.

Alongside the PDA, there is still over $4 billion in long-term funding available through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which is earmarked for weapons contracts. However, these funds are tied to deals for equipment that often take over a year to deliver, making them less useful for Ukraine’s immediate defense needs. The USAI funds won’t expire until September 30, 2025, but are not sufficient to maintain Ukraine’s current military efforts against Russian forces.

General CQ Brown, the newly appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized the critical importance of extending the PDA, particularly as Ukraine braces for winter fighting. Brown stressed that Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and protection of critical infrastructure will be key to slowing Russian advances during the cold months. Speaking to reporters en route to meetings in Europe, Brown said, “It’s very important to Ukraine on how they defend their national infrastructure, but also set their defenses for the winter so they can slow down any type of Russian advance.”

The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, reiterated the urgency of the situation during a briefing earlier on Thursday. He explained that the PDA enables the Pentagon to transfer weapons and equipment from its budget to Ukraine, with reimbursement possible through the $61 billion supplemental Ukraine aid package passed in April. Ryder stated that talks with Congress are ongoing to extend the necessary funding authorities, while confirming that drawdown packages will continue in the short term. “In the meantime, you’re going to continue to see drawdown packages,” Ryder said. “But we’ll have much more to provide on that in the near future.”

Without congressional action, the lapse in funding could seriously disrupt Ukraine’s efforts to fend off Russian advances, especially given the country’s reliance on U.S. military aid. Just five months ago, a similar funding delay due to political gridlock in Congress left Ukraine facing critical shortages of ammunition, which allowed Russian forces to make significant gains. U.S. officials attributed Russia’s territorial advances earlier this year to the lack of timely funding approval from Washington.

Since the funding resumed, U.S. weapons have been instrumental in bolstering Ukraine’s forces, enabling them to launch operations in Russia’s Kursk region and hold Russian territory for the first time since World War II. Ukraine’s recent successes, including their incursion into Russian territory five weeks ago, have been attributed in part to the renewed flow of U.S. weapons. However, a fresh lapse in funding could reverse some of those gains and undermine Ukraine’s strategic position, particularly as it prepares for the harsh winter months ahead.

As the September 30 deadline looms, U.S. officials are urging Congress to act swiftly to extend the funding authorization and ensure continued support for Ukraine’s military defense.

Read more political news