Biden’s time in the White House is almost up. But he’s going out guns blazing.
And Joe Biden makes a demand of Congress that has Americans worried sick.
As his term draws to a close, President Biden is reportedly making a final push for Congress to approve $24 billion in aid for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its military capabilities and replenish U.S. weapon stockpiles depleted.
The White House Office of Management and Budget has suggested that Congress could incorporate this aid package into a broader plan to prevent a government shutdown before the December 20 deadline, according to a request that was gathered by Politico Pro.
The proposal, reviewed by lawmakers earlier this week, allocates $8 billion to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds U.S. defense contracts to supply Kyiv, and $16 billion to restock American weapon reserves.
The proposal has sparked immediate backlash from some Republicans. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) criticized the request on social media, accusing Biden of undermining U.S. interests.
“Joe Biden just gave away 4.7 billion in your taxpayer dollars by unilaterally ‘forgiving’ loans to Ukraine. Congress must not give him a free gift to further sabotage President Trump’s peace negotiations on the way out the door,” Lee posted on X. He called for any new funding demands to be dead on arrival.
The Biden administration recently informed Congress of plans to forgive $4.65 billion in Ukrainian debt, adding to the controversy surrounding U.S. financial support for Kyiv. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan defended the president’s stance, emphasizing the need for continued assistance.
“The threat to Ukraine will remain no matter what exactly happens on the battlefield or at the negotiating table, and the United States should not walk away from its commitment, either to Ukraine or to 50 nations that we have rallied in defense of Ukraine in both Europe and Asia,” Sullivan said earlier this month on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
Congress previously approved a significant aid package for Ukraine in April, following nearly nine months of negotiations after Biden’s initial request in August 2023. That $61 billion tranche was part of a larger $95 billion package, which included $10 billion in economic loans for Ukraine.
The vote highlighted divisions in Washington, with some Republican lawmakers expressing frustration over unchecked spending.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) even attempted to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after the package passed, though Democrats ultimately rallied to preserve his leadership.
The current aid proposal faces an uphill battle in a Congress preoccupied with looming budget deadlines and broader debates about U.S. priorities.
Fiscal conservatives within the Republican Party continue to demand stricter reforms before approving additional spending, complicating efforts to secure new funding for Ukraine.
Biden’s push also coincides with shifting dynamics in the conflict itself. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end the war within 24 hours through negotiations.
Meanwhile, Russia has made gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, leaving Kyiv’s forces struggling to reclaim lost ground.
Earlier this month, Biden authorized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to deploy long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets within Russian territory—an escalation welcomed by Kyiv.
The war’s complexities deepen as external actors get involved. Reports indicate that North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to assist Russia’s invasion, heightening tensions in an already volatile conflict.
As Biden presses Congress for continued support, the U.S. must decide if it wants to continue a war that’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon under the current leadership in the White House.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
