Biden Signs $95 Billion Aid Bill

President Biden signed a $95B war aid bill, assisting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, while also proposing TikTok's sale or US ban. Funding delays have hampered Ukraine's defense against Russia. Despite new weaponry, Ukraine's immediate recovery seems unlikely after prolonged setbacks. Biden announced the commencement of military aid transfer, primarily from a $61B allocation for Ukraine. This aid is expected to bolster Ukrainian forces with air defense, artillery, and armored vehicles. However, the long-term outlook for Ukraine's ability to maintain American political backing amidst ongoing losses and infrastructure damage remains uncertain.

The funding largely passed following prolonged debate brought on by far-right Republicans, who opposed a majority of spending toward Ukraine. Along with Democrats who opposed sending additional aid towards Israel over concerns that the conflict would extend and worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis within the Gaza region. This was overcome due to lobbying and the legislation being pushed through by Speaker Mike Johnson, who pushed through the bill despite calls from within his own party for his removal from leadership if he were to do so. Calls largely came from a coalition led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The aid to Ukraine, in particular, comes at a key moment. Both Russia and Ukraine are expected to take advantage of the summer to launch various offensives. Ukraine is now struggling to hold onto major cities like Kharkiv, amid weapons shortages and a lack of air defense support. In particular, the US funding will go towards the procurement of medium-range missiles with the ability to strike deep into Russian-occupied territory to disrupt supply lines, as well as 155mm artillery shells, which have been in high demand and short supply for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Realistic goals for the months ahead for Ukraine and its allies include avoiding the loss of major cities, slowing Russia’s momentum, and obtaining additional weaponry for Kyiv that could help them go on the offensive in 2025.

The bill includes several compromises, such as millions dedicated to humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Region and the wider Middle East, as well as a reduction in overall aid for Israel. However, the main compromise involves the so-called TikTok ban. This legislation would force ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of the social media platform used by an estimated 170 million Americans, to either sell the platform or make it unavailable in the United States. This has sparked backlash from ByteDance and TikTok users, who have been urged by the company to lobby Congress against such action. Additionally, some argue that such measures go against the ideals of free speech and First Amendment rights.