Top Republicans ask watchdog to look at economic assistance to Ukraine - The Hill

The apical Republicans with oversight of overseas affairs are calling connected an autarkic legislature watchdog to supply elaborate accusation connected the Biden administration’s transportation of economical and humanitarian enactment to Ukraine.

The petition comes arsenic unit grows wrong the GOP to chopped oregon audit the assistance provided to Ukraine by the administration, an effort that has triggered worries astir continued enactment for the war-torn country.

In a letter to the Government Accountability Office sent Thursday, the ranking Republicans connected the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Armed Services Committee said they are seeking accusation connected however the medication is monitoring astir $14.9 cardinal successful funds disbursed done the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

The missive addresses criticisms that person been raised by the GOP lawmakers, Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho) and Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas), that USAID has been excessively dilatory to disburse the funds provided.

“It is imperative that USAID and the Department of State proceed to enactment with haste to usage these funds to code the dire needs of the radical of Ukraine,” the lawmakers wrote.

“In doing so, it volition beryllium important that the agencies coordinate with the planetary donor community, allied and spouse governments, the Government of Ukraine, and section Ukrainian organizations to guarantee that U.S. assistance does not duplicate different efforts, but alternatively is good targeted to wherever the request is greatest.” 

The telephone for oversight echoes concerns and criticisms from Republicans that more scrutiny is needed to afloat relationship for U.S. assistance to Ukraine. The criticisms scope from GOP lawmakers who accidental they enactment continued American assistance to Kyiv, to those who advocator cutting backing to Ukraine successful general.  

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has rejected supporting immoderate assistance to Ukraine and called for a afloat audit of the U.S. enactment that has been provided. A solution to found the audit was voted down connected Wednesday by the Democrat-led House Foreign Affairs Committee, but garnered enactment from the Republican members of the panel.

McCaul, who is the apt president of the House Foreign Affairs Committee erstwhile Republicans instrumentality power of the House successful January, did not accidental specifically if helium would enactment Greene’s solution if it is reintroduced, but told The Hill helium is moving to draught authorities strengthening oversight. 

“I deliberation it’s much adjuvant to person a much transparent view,” helium said erstwhile asked if helium would enactment Green’s resolution.

“We haven’t had 1 proceeding connected Ukraine since Feb 24, successful my committee,” McCaul added. “We’re going to beryllium mostly supportive of the idea, we request much accusation astir this. I’ll astir apt person a measure I’ll beryllium passing, to supply that.” 

Still, helium spoke successful enactment of assistance for Ukraine.

“I bash deliberation for the magnitude of wealth we’ve invested successful this, to demoralize and decision the Russian military… done Ukraine, without 1 of our soldiers, not 1 American worker has been enactment into this oregon died, to maine that’s a bully investment.”

The Ukrainian authorities has advocated for economical and humanitarian support, arguing it is arsenic indispensable arsenic subject support. The U.S. is simply a starring donor to Ukraine.

Funds pledged by USAID includes $13 cardinal successful nonstop enactment to Ukraine that has allowed the state to bargain humanitarian goods and wage the salaries of civilian servants, schoolhouse employees, infirmary workers. Funds person besides been directed to societal services. 

USAID has besides pledged $667 cardinal successful economical and nutrient information assistance, and $1.3 cardinal successful humanitarian assistance. 

Independent investigation estimates that astir 60 percent of the U.S.  funds person been disbursed, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker.