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The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is engaged in urgent negotiations with Congress to secure over $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before the September 30 deadline, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
As reported by Reuters, the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a key component of the $61 billion aid package approved in April, allows the president to transfer defense goods and services from U.S. stockpiles in response to emergencies.
The PDA has been the primary mechanism used by Biden’s administration to supply weapons to Ukraine. On August 23, the administration announced a new $125 million military aid package, including air defense missiles, anti-drone equipment, anti-tank missiles, and ammunition.
However, most of the $7.8 billion allocated in the April bill remains unused. Officials are now scrambling to save the remaining $6 billion, as the September 30 deadline—the end of the 2024 fiscal year—approaches.
Sources close to the negotiations told Reuters that the State Department hopes to extend the authority through a Continuing Resolution—a short-term emergency spending bill that Congress must pass this month to avoid a government shutdown on September 30.
Congressional aides, speaking anonymously, expressed confidence that a solution would be found due to the strong bipartisan support for Ukraine aid.
It remains unclear why the flow of weapons to Ukraine has slowed this year, but some lawmakers attribute it to concerns from the U.S. Department of Defense about depleting its own stockpiles, as the defense industry faces supply chain challenges.
Supporters of Ukraine in both parties emphasized the importance of maintaining aid.
While negotiations with Congress continue, the administration is considering a backup plan where the State Department would make a significant aid announcement before September 30, effectively committing the remaining $6 billion before the deadline.
Under this plan, delivery timelines for weapons and equipment would be extended, allowing for a gradual transfer of resources to Ukraine.
Additionally, about $3 billion in PDA funds, resulting from a Pentagon accounting error, remain available and are not subject to the September 30 deadline.
Several U.S. advocacy groups have urged the State Department not to miss the opportunity to use the remaining $6.2 billion in presidential authority funds before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
Read also: The possibility of Harris’s victory over Trump slowed the loan for Ukraine by $50 billion – Politico
