White House slow to release Ukraine aid, drawing congressional ire

The White House is facing criticism from Congress for its slow pace in disbursing $400 million in aid to Ukraine. The Pentagon's plan, outlined in May, involves a gradual release of funds, with the final delivery not expected until September 2029, well after the end of President Trump's current term.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that despite two months passing since the plan was presented, the funds have neither been disbursed nor formally contracted. This timeline has drawn dissatisfaction from members of both parties in Congress, who view the pace as exceptionally slow given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The aid program, known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), allows the Pentagon to order defense equipment from U.S. manufacturers for Ukraine. Congress allocated $400 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 through the National Defense Authorization Act passed in December 2025.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on July 28. He is expected to advocate for the urgent delivery of air defense systems and finalize a drone agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. Zelenskyy is also slated to meet with all U.S. senators on Capitol Hill.