U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence and optimism in Congress’ ability to secure additional funding for both Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining separate funding streams for the two countries. Speaking in Florida on November 27, Johnson reiterated his stance that aid to Israel and Ukraine should be treated as distinct priorities, with funding for each nation allocated independently.
Johnson has consistently advocated for a bill passed by the House that links further aid to Israel with cuts in funding to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This proposal reflects Johnson’s belief that streamlining the IRS and reducing its budget can provide the necessary resources to support Israel without placing an additional burden on American taxpayers.
In addition to his position on Israel, Johnson also underscored the need for changes to U.S. border policies as a condition for providing additional assistance to Ukraine. He emphasized that the United States cannot ignore its own border security concerns while supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
“Ukraine is another priority,” Johnson stated. “Of course, we can’t allow Vladimir Putin to march through Europe. And we understand the necessity of assisting there. What we’ve said is that if there is to be additional assistance to Ukraine — which most members of Congress believe is important — we have to also work on changing our own border policy.”
Johnson acknowledged the ongoing negotiations surrounding the issue of additional aid to Ukraine and expressed confidence that most Senate colleagues recognize the need to address both Ukraine’s needs and U.S. border security concerns simultaneously.
The United States has already provided substantial financial support to Ukraine, with approximately $44.2 billion in military assistance allocated since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and over $47 billion in total military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
Johnson’s emphasis on separate funding streams for Israel and Ukraine, along with his insistence on addressing U.S. border security concerns as part of any additional aid package for Ukraine, highlights the complex considerations that Congress faces in balancing its foreign policy priorities with domestic concerns.