Topline
An accounting error led to the Pentagon overestimating the cost of the military aid it has sent to Ukraine by “at least” $3 billion, defense department officials disclosed on Thursday, a finding that will allow the Biden administration to send more weapons to aid Kyiv’s planned summer counteroffensive without seeking additional funding from Congress.
Ukrainian servicemen fire a M777 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on … [+]
Key Facts
Biden administration officials disclosed the findings to congressional staffers and informed them that this could allow them to offer additional assistance to Ukraine before its counteroffensive begins, the New York Times reported.
Discovery of this accounting error frees up at least an additional $3 billion to help fund military aid to Ukraine, but this number could grow larger as the Pentagon investigates the issue, according to Reuters.
The issue stems from Defense Department officials overvaluing the cost of items sent to Ukraine by counting the cost of replacing a weapon with a new one instead of its present value.
Although the issue was disclosed to Congressional officials on Thursday, it had been discovered almost two months ago, the Times report added.
Big Number
$30.4 billion. That is the total amount of military aid the U.S. has sent to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office, according to the Pentagon. $29.8 billion of this aid has been provided after Russia’s invasion of the country last year.
Chief Critic
In a joint statement, House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called the delayed disclosure of the accounting error “extremely problematic,” and added: “The Biden Administration must make up for this precious lost time by using these funds to provide Ukraine the DPICMS and ATACMS [artillery weapons]
they need to fuel the counteroffensive and win the war.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/05/19/pentagon-can-send-additional-military-aid-to-ukraine-after-spotting-3-billion-accounting-error/