On November 27th, Fox News reported that U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration was
scrambling to track the nearly $20 billion in military aid that it has sent to Ukraine as Republicans warn of impending audits when they take control of the House [of Representatives] in January.
Incoming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as quoted by Fox News, said that an audit would be aimed at establishing to what extent “the U.S. aid is ending up in the wrong hands.”
The audit plans enjoy bipartisan support, according to the Washington Post (subscription required), with Democrat Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado demanding greater scrutiny of the military aid to Ukraine.
Also on November 27th, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) asked on Twitter:
On December 6th, msn.com reported growing support in the Republican House caucus for closer scrutiny of the aid to Ukraine:
Mainstream Republicans on Tuesday rallied behind a resolution sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to audit U.S. military and economic aid for Ukraine, sending their strongest signal yet that the Biden administration will face stricter scrutiny of its support for the war effort when control of the House shifts next year.
The Democrats, who currently control the House, defeated an audit proposal in the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee. According to msn.com, the leading Democrat member of the committee explained that this was not “the time for us to be divided” regarding Ukraine.
Adam Smith, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, likened calls for tighter scrutiny of Ukraine-bound aid to “Russian propaganda.” Republican Representative Greene replied by asking:
The Republicans will assume the majority in the House of Representatives when the 118th Congress is sworn in on January 3rd.
