The House of Representatives delivered a decisive blow Tuesday night to an effort by Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) to cut off U.S. security assistance for Ukraine, voting 76-350 to reject his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The measure would have prohibited Pentagon funding from being used for Ukraine security aid, except for protecting the U.S. embassy in Kyiv.
All 76 votes in favor came from Republican lawmakers, but the amendment faced strong bipartisan opposition. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) both spoke against the proposal earlier in the day, underscoring the broad consensus on continuing support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion.
Crane, a former Navy SEAL and second-term representative for Arizona's 2nd District, has been a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Kyiv. In April 2023, he co-signed a letter with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) urging then-President Joe Biden to end U.S. support for Ukraine, arguing that aid should be tied to a clear diplomatic strategy to end the war. "Unrestrained U.S. aid for Ukraine must come to an end," the lawmakers wrote, demanding a rapid conclusion to the conflict.
The defeat comes as Congress has appropriated roughly $195 billion for the Russia-Ukraine war through late March 2024, according to the State Department's Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve. The last major Ukraine aid package passed in April 2024, and the Treasury Department transferred a $20 billion loan to a World Bank intermediary fund later that year.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump authorized Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missiles, a critical air defense system that Kyiv relies on to counter Russian ballistic missile strikes. This move signals continued U.S. engagement despite ongoing debates over the scale and scope of assistance.
The amendment's failure highlights the enduring bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress, even as some Republicans push for a more restrained approach. The vote also reflects the broader political dynamics surrounding U.S. foreign policy, with many lawmakers wary of appearing to abandon an ally under attack.
In related developments, the Trump administration's decision to license Patriot missile production to Ukraine has drawn attention, as has the ongoing controversy over election security, with some GOP figures like Sen. Markwayne Mullin warning states of consequences for perceived vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court recently blocked the release of a Palestinian student in an immigration case, adding to the complex political landscape.
