House Speaker Mike Johnson responded Monday to pleas from the White House for more Ukraine funding by saying the emergency aid is a non-starter without stronger policies for the U.S. border.
“House Republicans have resolved that any national security supplemental package must begin with our border,” Mr. Johson, Louisiana Republican, wrote on social media. “We believe both issues can be agreed upon if Senate Democrats and the White House will negotiate reasonably.”
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young told congressional leaders earlier in the day that aid for Ukraine will run dry by year’s end and that a failure to quickly dole out more “will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield.”
“There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment,” Ms. Young wrote in a letter to Congress. “We are out of money — and nearly out of time.”
The tense exchanges came as Congress weighed emergency war aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Lawmakers remain unable to reach a deal as Democrats rebuff GOP demands for policy changes to slow the flood of illegal immigrants into the U.S.
Lawmakers are set to depart Washington for the remainder of the year in mid-December, dimming the prospects for Congress to land any form of legislation on President Biden’s desk. Democratic negotiators in the Senate suggested border talks were broken down with their Republican colleagues.
“The Biden administration has failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolving the conflict, or a plan for adequately ensuring accountability for aid provided by American taxpayers,” Mr. Johnson posted. “Meanwhile, the administration is continually ignoring the catastrophe at our own border.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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