White House asks Congress for $106 billion for Ukraine and Israel wars

The White House on Friday asked Congress for nearly $106 billion to fund ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel and US border security, but offered no strategy for securing the money from a broken Congress, Report informs via Reuters.

President Joe Biden's request for the funding comes days after he visited Israel and pledged solidarity as the country bombards Gaza following an attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,400 people in southern Israel.

By grouping Israel funding with Ukraine, border security, refugee assistance, measures to counter China and other hotly debated priorities, the Democratic president is hoping he has created a must-pass national security spending bill that can win support in a chaotic House of Representatives.

The chamber, which Republicans won control of last year, has been without a leader for 18 days.

Some Republican lawmakers have grown skeptical of the need to fund Ukraine's war with Russia, and have threatened to halt government altogether to put an end to chronic US budget deficits and fiscal spending fueled by $31.4 trillion in debt.

"The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities," said Biden's budget director, Shalanda Young, in a letter to acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry. "I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead."

In a call with reporters, Young said the role of the White House is to lay out the country's needs and the stakes, not to meddle in the speakership battle.

"We are doing our job here by letting Congress know what the critical needs are and we expect them to act, and act swiftly," she said.

She also told Congress of plans to submit another request for funding to deal with natural disasters, high-speed internet, child care and wild-land firefighter pay "in coming days."

Some $14.3 billion of Friday's funding request for the 2024 fiscal year would be dedicated to Israel, much of it to support the country's air and missile defense systems and other weapons purchases. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, after the Islamist militant group's Oct. 7 attack.

Hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's bid to become speaker of the US House of Representatives ended on Friday as his fellow Republicans revoked their support following a third, failed vote on the House floor, lawmakers said. Republicans now must find a new candidate, complicating Biden's efforts to secure funding.

Democratic US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Friday that he will move ahead quickly on Biden's request.

Biden also wants more than $9 billion for humanitarian relief, including for Israel and Gaza, where the population faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The proposal also includes $13.6 billion for US border security to deal with large numbers of Latin American and Caribbean immigrants at the southern border as well as fentanyl trade and $4 billion in military assistance and government financing designed to counter China's regional efforts in Asia. Funding will also support the Pacific "AUKUS" security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

But the largest share of cash, $61.4 billion, would be for Ukraine. The request includes billions to replenish the country's military equipment, and would provide economic and security aid and support for refugees in the United States. The war with Russia is 20 months old, and Biden has vowed to support Ukraine indefinitely.