To help Ukraine, the Pentagon might need to have more funding

Officials said that the Pentagon might have to ask Congress to provide additional funds to Ukraine to fight against Russia’s invasion. This would also include replenishing America’s weapons arsenal sent to Kyiv.

Pentagon leaders Monday said that the Defense Department’s $773 million request for fiscal 2020 was approved. However, the Pentagon stated that the budget was not finalized prior to the invasion and therefore does not have any money for war. In March, Congress approved $13.5 billion in emergency funding.

Leaders said that it was impossible to predict how quickly the Ukrainian forces would use up the weapons, ammunition, and how much money the U.S. would need to replace the equipment it sent to Ukraine such as Stinger missiles and Javelin missiles, or body armor.

Michael McCord, Pentagon comptroller, said, “We’ll need to look at it again, probably in summer to be prepared for some more difficult options.” “In the initial phases at least, we have clearly been going through that drawdown with a fairly high pace. If that were to continue, then yes, it would be necessary to address this again in the future.

McCord stated that the U.S. views China as America’s greatest challenge, despite the conflict in Europe.

“We didn’t feel that the current events have changed the fact that China is still the No. He said that China is the No. 1 issue we should be keeping an eye on. “Obviously, it is up to you to draw your own conclusions regarding Russia’s performance in the field.”

The war is entering its second month. As NATO’s eastern flank fears Russia, the U.S. has been sending aircraft, troops and weapons to the region. According to the Pentagon, the budget acknowledges Russia’s “acute threat” and includes more than $5B to support European allies and improve America’s cooperation with them.

It also funds high-tech weapons, capabilities and countermeasures against Russia, China and other enemies. These programs include hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and space-based missile warning systems and defense systems.

The 2023 budget plan provides a 4.6% increase in military pay and Defense Department civilians, the largest increase in 20 years. It also provides $479 million for sexual assault prevention, treatment, and judicial programs. This includes the hiring of approximately 2,000 personnel including counselors and prosecutors.

Additionally, the department is seeking $1 billion in order to continue efforts to close down Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (Hawaii) that allowed petroleum to leach into Pearl Harbor’s water supply. This money will be in addition to the $1 billion already allotted and will pay for remediation, ongoing costs of the families affected, litigation costs, and the development and maintenance of alternative fuel locations in the region for the U.S. Military.

Nearly 6,000 people, most of them living in military housing near Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, were taken to the hospital for treatment for nausea, headaches, and other conditions. A further 4,000 military families were forced from their homes.

The budget includes $34.4 million to accelerate the modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal. This follows largely the Obama administration’s lead and was continued by Donald Trump.

One of the changes was the Biden administration’s decision to end plans for a cruise-launched, nuclear cruise missile. The program, which was started by Trump but was criticized by many Democrats for being too ambitious, was still in its early stages of research-and-development.

Other budget cuts include the decommissioning and reduction of ships, the purchase of F-35 fighter planes in 2023, as well as a decrease in the purchase of F-35 fighter aircraft in 2023, and a plan to eliminate the A-10 attack aircraft of the Air Force. In the past, Congress has consistently rejected attempts to reduce the A-10.