With the Russia-Ukraine war still raging after nearly a year, House Republicans are demanding the Biden administration provide documentation of all the funds the U.S. has provided for the conflict.
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and 22 other Republicans on the panel signed a letter to administration officials Wednesday seeking “documents and information” showing how the Defense and State departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development are conducting oversight of these funds.
The letter was addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power.
President Joe Biden vowed Monday during his surprise trip to Ukraine that the U.S. would send support to the country for “as long as it takes.”
Since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States “has provided more than $113 billion for security, humanitarian, economic, and governance assistance,” the Oversight Committee Republicans’ letter said.
“It is critical that government agencies administering these funds ensure they are used for their intended purposes to prevent and reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse,” the lawmakers wrote.
Comer and the Republicans on the committee demanded the White House turn over its receipts regarding aid sent to Ukraine.
Specifically, it asked the White House for all documents and communications regarding:
• “[S]trategies for end-use monitoring of weapons, equipment, direct budgeting assistance, and any other form of economic or security assistance for the Ukrainian people.”
• “[A]ny anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.”
• “[H]ow much money has been disbursed for Ukrainian assistance and how much remains in the spending pipeline.”
• “[A]ny economic assistance programs for the Ukrainian government.”
• “[F]unds given to multilateral organizations for the purpose of Ukrainian assistance and any information regarding any oversight mechanisms with respect to those organizations.”
• “[A]ny benchmarks for success of programs funded by assistance to Ukraine.”
• “[A]ny conditions imposed on funds provided as assistance to Ukraine.”
RealClearPolitics, which first reported on the letter, said this will be “the most comprehensive audit of the war effort to date.”
Much of the focus is on ensuring U.S. aid to Ukraine goes where it is intended in a nation with a history of rampant corruption.
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