Senate panel approves $500 million aid for Ukraine in defense bill
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
WASHINGTON - The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine as part of its draft language for its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which also restricts A-10 aircraft retirements.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual policy bill that authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military.
It ensures that American forces have the necessary resources to carry out their missions and is closely watched by weapons makers like Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co.
The NDAA, passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee with a vote of 26-1 on July 9, 2025, includes a provision to extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2028, increasing authorized funding to $500 million from $300 million in 2025.
The initiative aims to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities as it battles Russian forces which invaded in 2022.
The bill also prohibits a controversial request made in President Donald Trump's June budget request to retire the Air Force A-10 fleet. The draft requires that the inventory of the A-10 cannot drop below 103 aircraft in FY26, ensuring the continued operation of these close air support planes.
The draft of the bill will make its way through the legislative process in the coming months. The lower House of Representatives kept Ukraine support at $300 million in its version.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore ST will have Govt's 'full confidence and support' in its mission: PM Wong
Singapore ST will aim to become an indispensable partner to S'pore's communities: Editor Jaime Ho
Singapore Heartbeats & Headlines: ST's 180-year legacy comes to life in immersive exhibition
Singapore Trusted news, smarter experience with new Straits Times website and app
Singapore Community space Stranger Conversations blossoms as a 'library of human stories' and life experiences
Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide
Singapore New list of technologies that reduce carbon footprint of buildings to be ready by Q1 2026
Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term
The NDAA supports a total of $925 billion in funding for national defense, with $878.7 billion allocated to the Department of Defense and $35.2 billion to the Department of Energy. The bill also allows for up to $6 billion in general transfer authority for unforeseen higher-priority needs.
In addition to Ukraine, the NDAA addresses various global security challenges, including threats from China, Iran, and North Korea.
It emphasizes the need for technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, unmanned technology, and hypersonic weapons to maintain U.S. military superiority. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Codelco says worker dead, several injured after 'seismic event' at El Teniente mine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: The logo of Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, is seen at their headquarters in downtown Santiago, Chile March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo Chilean copper miner Codelco said on Thursday that one worker died at the Andesita project of its El Teniente mine after what it called a 'seismic event' around 5:30 p.m. local time. The company said in a statement it was looking for another five workers, and that nine workers had various injuries but were out of serious risk. Codelco said it immediately suspended activities in the affected area and started an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. El Teniente is the world's largest underground copper deposit and Codelco's flagship mine. REUTERS
AsiaOne
19 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Trump administration refers Harvard to Justice Department in civil rights probe, World News
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration has sent a letter to Harvard University saying it has referred the university to the US Justice Department to address allegations of "Harvard's antisemitic discrimination." In late June, the Trump administration said an investigation had concluded Harvard violated federal civil rights law for failing to address harassment of Jewish and Israeli students. Critics, rights experts and some faculty said such probes are a pretext to assert federal control over schools and threaten academic freedom and free speech. Harvard has been embroiled in talks and a legal fight with the Trump administration, seeking the restoration of billions of dollars of frozen federal funds for medical research and other programmes. It sued the Trump administration earlier this year. "The parties' several months' engagement has been fruitless," said the letter dated Wednesday from the US Department of Health and Human Services to Harvard's leadership. "OCR (Office for Civil Rights) therefore has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard's antisemitic discrimination." Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza. The government alleges universities allowed antisemitism during last year's pro-Palestinian protests. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Campus protesters demanded an end to US backing for Israel and a commitment that their universities will cease investing in weapons makers and companies that support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Harvard had no immediate comment on Wednesday's letter. The university has said it aims to combat discrimination. Reports released in April by Harvard's antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces found fear and bigotry faced by Jewish, Muslim and Arab students. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia. Last week, Columbia University agreed to pay over US$220 million (S$285 million) to resolve federal probes. The New York Times has reported Harvard was open to spending up to US$500 million to end its dispute with the government. [[nid:720454]]
AsiaOne
an hour ago
- AsiaOne
Trump wants deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine by Aug 8, US tells UN, World News
UNITED NATIONS — US President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants a deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine by Aug 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday (July 31). "Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by Aug 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace," senior US diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council. Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia "10 days from today" if Moscow showed no progress toward ending its war in Ukraine. Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year that yielded exchanges of prisoners and bodies, but no breakthrough to defuse the more than three-year conflict. "We intend to continue the negotiations in Istanbul," Russia's deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council, but he added: "Despite the meetings in Istanbul, in the West, the war party did not go away... We continue hearing voices of those who think that diplomacy is just a way of criticising Russia and exerting pressure on it." Ukraine's deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia must be confronted with "unity, resolve and action." "We seek a comprehensive, just and lasting peace grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and nothing less. We repeat — a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is essential. It is the first step to halting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," she told the council. [[nid:720830]]
