With his signature yesterday, Biden put into effect the $1.7 trillion budget approved by both chambers of Congress. About half of the budget – nearly $858 billion – is spent on defense. About $45 billion has been earmarked for aid to Ukraine.
Passing the budget bill is a victory for Biden’s Democrats. The budget gives slightly more support to Ukraine than the president had initially requested from the House and Senate. Only last Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj appealed for further support in an impassioned speech to the US Congress in Washington. “Your money is not charity, it is an investment in global security and democracy, which we will handle in the most responsible way,” Zelenskyi said before both houses of parliament.
Of the nearly $45 billion now earmarked for Ukraine, about $9 billion is for military aid and nearly $16 billion is for economic and humanitarian aid for the country attacked by Russia. In addition, $12 billion is planned to replenish US military ammunition stocks and supplies following deliveries to Ukraine. Another $7 billion has been earmarked for additional spending by US troops in Europe.
The new budget finances government affairs until September 2023.
(SDA)