Shalanda Young, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that the $40 billion emergency fund is needed to meet “three sets of critical needs.”
Young said:
“To continue our commitment to Congress, to the defense of the Ukrainian people’s homeland and to democracy around the world; to fill the gap in disaster response and adequately support our firefighters fighting wildfires; to combat fentanyl smuggling and humanitarian and border security on the southwestern US border.” I urge swift action to secure the additional funding requested to continue our progress in responding to the situation.”
If Congress approves, about $24 billion of the fund is planned to be used for aid to Ukraine and other international needs, $12 billion for disaster relief, and $4 billion for border and immigration issues.
On the other hand, some Republicans in the US Congress reacted to the additional budget request and gave the message that they would not support the fund.