The White House is cautiously optimistic about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to advance separate bills to fund Ukraine and Israel’s defense needs, as long as both countries’ needs are addressed.
After initially opposing a standalone bill for Israeli defense funding, the Biden administration is now open to considering Mr. Johnson’s proposal to put forward bills for both Ukraine and Israel in rapid succession this week.
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby stated that while the administration still objects to a standalone bill for Israel without a companion measure for Ukraine, they are willing to hear more about Mr. Johnson’s plan for separate but simultaneous bills.
“It does appear at first blush that the speaker’s proposals will, in fact, help us get aid to Ukraine, aid to Israel, and needed resources to the Indo-Pacific for a wide range of contingencies there,” Mr. Kirby said. “Separate is not a deal-breaker as long as both Israel and Ukraine are addressed.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also confirmed that President Biden and Mr. Johnson had discussed the plan in a phone call, emphasizing the importance of funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region.
“We do not want to see a standalone, we want to see all of these components move forward,” she said. “We’re going to see the details of the plan, but obviously we want to see what the speaker has to share.”
The White House is now eagerly awaiting more details from Mr. Johnson before making a final decision on the proposed bills.