Because of the weapons sent to Ukraine, the Pentagon now needs $10bn to replenish its arsenals, Politico writes. However, since the package of additional aid to Kiev is stuck in Congress, the US defence establishment is still unable to patch this “gaping hole”, the article notes.
Because of the Ukraine aid bill stuck in Congress, the US Department of Defence is still unable to get the money to replace $10 billion worth of weapons sent to the Ukrainians, Politico writes.
Pentagon officials are hoping to replenish US arsenals with the help of Joe Biden’s proposed supplemental funding bill, which also includes funds for Israel and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, a senior Defence Department official said on condition of anonymity that if the US Department of Defence does not receive funding to replenish its stockpile, the US military will eventually feel the effects of this “gaping hole”.
“We have not been able with the funding that we have available to date – and there is a lot of additional funding expected now – to make up for everything we’ve already provided to Ukraine,” the unnamed official said. – So if we can’t get new funding, it will affect our own readiness and our own stockpiles to a certain extent.”