The Pentagon, facing a looming federal government shutdown in the coming days, announced that aid to Ukraine would be exempt from any cessation in operations.
Politico reports that the “DOD has decided to continue activities supporting Ukraine,” a move that will be viewed as “good news for [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy.”
The decision was made, according to Newsweek, “just after” Zelensky visited with leaders in Washington, including a closed-door meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
American military operations not considered critical to national security are typically halted during a government shutdown, though the Pentagon is able to make some exceptions.
And that exception comes to the benefit of Ukraine.
🚨 JUST IN: The Pentagon has decided to EXEMPT Ukraine operations from a potential government shutdown if lawmakers fail to reach a deal by the end of the month.
This means tens of billions will continue flowing into Ukraine regardless.
Why is that even legal? pic.twitter.com/GKcCPb9aTb
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 21, 2023
RELATED: Pentagon ‘Accounting Error’ That Benefits Ukraine Doubles, to $6.2 Billion
Government Shutdown Won’t Halt Aid To Ukraine
Conservatives opposed to endless wars conducted to the detriment of the American people weren’t pleased that the government shutdown, which would cause 800,000 civilian employees of the Pentagon to be furloughed, would not disrupt aid to the war effort in Ukraine.
It shows an obvious skew in priorities that put Zelensky’s war ahead of the needs of this nation, and several people on social media expressed their discontent as a result.
“The only thing the [Biden] administration cares about is funding their proxy war in Ukraine,” wrote former Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “They treat hard-working Americans as bargaining chips.”
America First Republicans are demanding fiscal responsibility.
But the only thing the @JoeBiden administration cares about is funding their proxy war in Ukraine.
They treat hard-working Americans as bargaining chips.
Our families never asked to be part of their game. https://t.co/VtV59aWlBd
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 21, 2023
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Maureen Bannon, the daughter of former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, pointed out that only military operations deemed crucial to national security are supposed to be exempt from a government shutdown.
And Ukraine doesn’t fit the bill.
“Training Ukrainian troops is NOT critical to United States National Security,” she wrote on X. “It is NOT in the VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST of the United States to have service members aiding Ukraine in their border conflict.”
Meanwhile, our border is a porous mess.
When the government shuts down, ALL military activities stop unless they are deemed CRITICAL to national security. @SecDef, training Ukrainian troops is NOT critical to United States National Security.
It is NOT in the VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST of the United States to… https://t.co/8Gpu8T9oGI
— Maureen Bannon (@maureen_bannon) September 21, 2023
“Zelensky over senior citizens. The government hates us,” wrote political commentator Gunther Eagleman.
BREAKING: The pentagon will exempt all operations with Ukraine in the event of a government shutdown… The faucet will stay on.
Zelensky over senior citizens.
The government hates us.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 21, 2023
Ukraine Is A ‘Corrupt Regime’
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) outlined other reasons that Ukraine should not be a priority for the Biden administration – mainly the unbridled corruption.
Paul joined Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo and shredded Zelensky for meeting lawmakers in Washington and “begging for more money.”
“They’ve got bloated government and they’ve got corruption,” he explained. “And the American taxpayer, people are struggling in our country, are asked to fund it. I think it’s wrong. And I think most of the American people, frankly, are with me.”
“They’ve banned the political parties, they’ve invaded churches, they’ve arrested priests,” added Paul. “So, no, it isn’t a democracy. It’s a corrupt regime.”
Rand Paul finally SNAPS on Ukraine approved narrative:
“Ukraine banned the political parties, they’ve invaded churches, they’ve arrested priests, so no, it isn’t a democracy, it’s a corrupt regime.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 21, 2023
“We cannot continue with business as usual. We cannot continue to put the needs of other countries above our own,” Paul continued. “We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time that the Pentagon has aided Ukraine in ways costly to the American taxpayer.
They reported in June that an accounting “error” previously revealed in May had more than doubled to $6.2 billion, a surplus that was used in future aid packages to Ukraine.
Why can’t they “find” money for the American military? Why can’t they shut down aid to Ukraine and make sure their 800,000 civilian employees don’t have to be furloughed?
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