The Senate version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes three-quarters of a billion dollars in military aid for Ukraine. President Donald Trump cut US military aid to Ukraine, although he has continued to sell weapons to NATO that are transferred to Kiev.
On Thursday, the Republican controlled Senate Armed Services Committee added $750 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to the 2027 NDAA. President Joe Biden founded the USAI. The Pentagon uses the funds to buy weapons from American companies to send to Ukraine.
Under President Joe Biden, the US sent Ukraine tens of billions of dollars in military equipment through the USAI and the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). The PDA transfers arms directly from American stockpiles to Ukraine, rather than buying new weapons through the USAI.
The addition of aid for Ukraine to the NDAA may irk Trump. After taking office, Trump terminated US military aid to Kiev. However, Trump has continued to support Ukraine with intelligence sharing and selling weapons to NATO members that are then transferred to Kiev.
The Senate NDAA totals $1.15 trillion and officially changes the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
While President Trump promised the American people he would bring the war in Ukraine to a quick end after taking office, the conflict continues to rage on. Like Biden, Trump has attempted to use economic warfare to pressure Russia to pull out of Ukraine.
