A transpartisan coalition of groups calling itself โโโa diverse network of transparency and advocacy organizationsโ sent a letter to Senate leaders on Wednesday urging them โto take steps to ensure that all U.S. aid to Ukraine is subject to independent oversight,โ primarily by confirming permanent inspectors general at the Departments of Defense and State.
Since Russia launched its invasion in late February, Congress has approved more than $50 billion in humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine with, as the New York Times noted, โthe leaders of both parties rais[ing] few questions about how much money was being spent or what it would be used for.โ
Many are also worried that American weapons sent to Ukraine may end up in the wrong hands. Indeed, referring to so-called โSwitchbladeโ drones the United States is supplying Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official said last month that the Defense Department doesnโt know where they are or whether theyโre being used. โTheyโre not telling us every round of ammunition theyโre firing [at] who and at when. We may never know exactly to what degree theyโve using the Switchblades,โ the official said.
The dozen groups that signed the letter to Congress โ which include Public Citizen, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and the Quincy Institute โ say that โthe sheer magnitude and speed at which the federal government is sending aid calls for robust oversight in terms of both spending and monitoring its use.โ
The letter comes just days after 22 House Republicans sent a letter to President Biden expressing โgrave concern about the lack of oversight and accountability for the money and weapons recently approved by Congress for Ukraine,โ adding that โthis money has not been tracked in any meaningful way nor have the American people or elected officials been informed of its effectiveness or use.โ
The groups said Sen. Rand Paulโs proposal to place such monitoring in the already existing Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction โ given its expertise and oversight experience โ is โreasonable.โ But they worry such efforts will delay needed aid to Ukraine. Theyโre also concerned that Sen. John Kennedyโs proposal to create a new โSIGARโ for Ukraine has deficiencies in transparency and oversight.
โTherefore,โ the groups say, โwe encourage youโfirst and foremostโto confirm Rob Storch to be the inspector general at the Department of Defense, and to call on the administration to nominate an inspector general for the Department of State.โ