Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and JD Vance (R-OH) are demanding answers from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) following the revelation that the price tag of American aid to Ukraine exceeds $125 billion.

In a recent letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young, the lawmakers, along with fifteen colleagues from the House and Senate, expressed their concerns after new data showed that previous OMB totals significantly underestimated the cost of Ukraine aid.

The senators stated, "We now have confirmation from OMB that the total Ukraine spending figure is significantly higher than the administration has ever admitted." They also highlighted their previous estimation of US spending in connection with the Ukraine conflict, saying, "In January 2023, based on the information then available to us, we had estimated US spending in connection with the Ukraine conflict at a minimum of $114 billion."

The OMB's latest transmission revealed additional funds allocated to Ukraine that were previously unreported. This includes $684 million in appropriated Ukraine spending and an extra $900 million in Department of Defense assistance, which should be included in the total Ukraine aid figure. Moreover, the OMB's new spreadsheet indicated that the administration has over $4 billion in authority remaining to transfer weapons from US stocks to Ukraine, leading to a potential total aid amount exceeding $129 billion.

The senators' full letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young can be accessed here.

The lawmakers' efforts to seek transparency and accountability in American aid to Ukraine underscore the importance of ensuring accurate reporting and oversight in government expenditures.