House Panel Rejects Bid to Boost Ukraine Funding by $500 Million in US Defense Budget

A Ukrainian soldier of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade fires a 40mm grenade launcher at the front line near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on June 17, 2023. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

The House Armed Services Committee on June 22 rejected a proposed amendment within the proposed U.S. defense budget calling for a $500 million boost in a fund that allows the Pentagon and Biden administration to dispatch assistance to Ukraine without Congressional approval.

The measure was among 800 amendments approved by the committee in moving the proposed $874.2 billion Fiscal Year National Defense Authorization Act (FY24 NDAA) to the House floor for full chamber adoption during a marathon hearing that began June 21 and ended early June 22.