The paused shipments of air defense missiles and precision munitions followed a review of the Defense Department’s munitions stockpiles and worries that U.S. armaments stockpiles were dwindling.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby was reportedly the main driver in the decision, which came in early June.
“If this is true, then Mr. Colby, who opposed military assistance to Ukraine and even refused to acknowledge that Russia’s actions amounted to an ‘invasion’ of Ukraine in his confirmation hearing, is taking action that will surely result in the imminent death of many Ukrainian military and civilians,” Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) posted Wednesday to social platform X.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called Colby and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “rogue actors” who are deviating from President Trump’s stance from a week ago, when he said the U.S. was “going to see if we can make some” air defense missiles available for Kyiv.
Ukraine’s few stalwart GOP allies also raised alarms that actions by DOD are undermining Trump’s leverage in pushing for Russia to come to a ceasefire, and criticizing how funds appropriated by Congress are being diverted.
“I led the effort to pass the emergency wartime supplemental to ensure Ukraine finally had the weapons it needed to repel Russia’s [vicious] and unprovoked attack,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, requested an emergency briefing from the White House on the status of defensive arms transfers to Ukraine.
“This comes as Russia launches the largest aerial assault since the war began, firing over 500 weapons at civilian targets in a single week,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.
The delayed lethal aid has set off alarm bells in Ukraine, which has been hit with intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances.
The paused shipment prompted Ukraine to call in the acting U.S. envoy to Kyiv to press on the importance of continuing military aid from Washington, Reuters reported.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back at least a year after the U.S. military bombed three vital nuclear sites last month. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters on Wednesday that intelligence assessments inside the department indicate that Iran’s nuclear program has been degraded by “one to two years.” “I think we’re thinking probably closer to …
Just fewer than 70 Florida National Guard troops have been sent to guard the remote migrant detention center in the state’s Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” the Pentagon’s top spokesperson announced Wednesday. “Nearly 70 Florida National Guard are on state active duty … conducting base camp security at Alligator Alcatraz,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters. …
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) is calling on the White House and the Department of Defense (DOD) to hold an emergency briefing on the Pentagon’s recent pause in shipments of some air defense missiles and munitions to Ukraine. “I respectfully request an emergency briefing from the White House and the Department of Defense on the Pentagon’s recent review of our nation’s weapons and munitions stockpiles, as well as the decision …
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held an honor cordon and bilateral with his Argentinian counterpart at the Pentagon today.
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
Federal judge tosses case from family of Boulder suspect seeking to block their deportation
A federal judge has tossed the case of the family of an Egyptian national who attacked a group of protesters in Colorado, ending their legal bid to block their deportation. The case, brought by Hayam El Gamal, the wife of Mohamed Soliman, ends the family’s legal battle to remain in the country. …
President Trump on Wednesday called for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign after the overseer of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac called for Congress … Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
