The White House insists that congressional Republicans must cease politicizing border security and take swift action. Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young expressed her frustration with the delay in funding, saying, “Some in Congress have said a lot about doing something on border security, while refusing to take up the $4 billion request we sent in August. … We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act.”
Strengthening Global Alliances
The remaining part of the funding request comprises $3.4 billion for fortifying the industrial base for building submarines in the U.S. This is in line with the AUKUS trilateral security agreement involving the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. An additional $2 billion in foreign military financing aims to bolster U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, with the primary focus being to address threats posed by an increasingly assertive China.
Moreover, there is $2 billion designated for development financing in developing countries, particularly those affected by the spillover from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This financial support is designed to counter coercive funding efforts by China and stimulate significant contributions from other nations through the World Bank.
White House $106B Security Funding : A Call for Action
While the current House Speaker vacancy poses a potential challenge to the timely consideration of this supplementary funding request, Shalanda Young emphasizes that it is a matter for the House to resolve. “Our job is to make clear to Congress what the needs are and what happens if this critical funding is not delivered,” she says. “So we’re doing our job here by letting Congress know what the critical needs are, and we expect them to act, and act swiftly.”
