Millions of dollars of US aid to Ukraine

The US House of Representatives passed a bill to provide $300 million in new aid to Ukraine.

The House of Representatives voted on the bill, which was separated from the budget of the Ministry of Defense (Pentagon) and converted into a new bill providing for $300 million in new aid to Ukraine. In the late vote, the bill passed with 311 “yes” votes to 117 “no” votes.
The inclusion of aid to Ukraine in the Pentagon’s 2024 budget caused tensions between Republicans and Democrats.

Separately, the House of Representatives also approved the Pentagon’s $826 billion budget after aid to Ukraine was excluded from the package. However, it was noted that this approval would not prevent a possible closure in the country.

Parliament also approved the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

THE GOVERNMENT CAN CLOSE

The US government is in danger of shutting down due to a budget dispute between Republicans and Democrats.

Under US law, if Congress is unable to pass the budget for the entire fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 each year, the period until this happens must be covered by temporary budgets. During periods when a temporary budget cannot be passed, the federal government, having lost its spending authority, is forced to suspend all activities except vital services.

In this process, while public employees working in non-essential services receive compulsory leave, public employees such as the US military, intelligence agencies, doctors and nurses working in public hospitals, security guards at airports and prisons continue with its functions.

These employees, who are in the “essential personnel” category, generally do not receive their salaries during shutdown periods until Congress passes a new budget. (AA)