House rejects Crane’s measure to block Ukraine security aid

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected an amendment from Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) that would have barred Pentagon funding from going toward Ukraine security assistance other than funding for the security of the U.S. embassy in the country. 

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment was defeated Tuesday night in a 76-350 vote, with all of the votes in favor coming from Republican lawmakers. 

Both Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the panel, spoke out against the amendment earlier on Tuesday. 

Crane, a former Navy SEAL, has been a critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine. 

The second-term Republican, who represents Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, penned a letter along with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) in April 2023 urging then-President Biden to end U.S. support for the Eastern European country fighting back against Russia’s invasion. 

“Unrestrained U.S. aid for Ukraine must come to an end, and we will adamantly oppose all future aid packages unless they are linked to a clear diplomatic strategy designed to bring this war to a rapid conclusion,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

Congress has appropriated around $195 billion in spending regarding the Russia-Ukraine war as of late March this year, according to the State Department’s Special Inspector General for “Operation Atlantic Resolve.” The last major piece of Ukraine aid legislation was passed in April 2024. 

Treasury Department transferred a $20 billion loan for Ukraine to a World Bank intermediary fund in late 2024. 

Earlier this month, President Trump said the U.S. would give Ukraine permission to co-produce Patriot missiles, a key air defense system which is important for Kyiv’s defense against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

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