The Biden administration has pledged to veto a standalone bill proposed by Republicans, which aims to provide billions of dollars in aid solely to Israel.
In a statement issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to Newsweek on Monday, the White House expressed strong opposition to the GOP’s initiative, denouncing it as a “political ploy.” The bill in question, H.R. 7217, emerged after conservative lawmakers objected to a broader bipartisan Senate bill addressing border security and aid for various U.S. allies.
According to OMB, rather than addressing critical national security challenges in good faith, the proposed bill represents yet another cynical political maneuver.
Joe Biden (Credits: Reuters)
Following months of negotiations between President Biden and congressional leaders to address the surge in migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, a bipartisan $118 billion border deal was unveiled on Sunday night.
The agreement included $20 billion for immigration enforcement and an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity. Additionally, it allocated $14 billion in aid to Israel, along with funds for Ukraine, Indo-Pacific nations, and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Gaza, and the West Bank.
Despite attempts to balance border security enhancements favored by House Republicans and immigration policy reforms favored by Senate Democrats, the bill faced swift criticism from conservatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the measure as “worse than expected” and declared it “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber. Instead, Republicans in the House intended to push for a bill solely providing aid to Israel.
Representative Ken Calvert, a California Republican, introduced H.R. 7217, dubbed the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, aiming to allocate $17.6 billion in military assistance for Israel and additional funding for U.S. forces in the region.
The Biden administration condemned Calvert’s measure, accusing Republicans of politicizing aid for Israel. OMB emphasized the importance of safeguarding Israel’s security and criticized the GOP’s approach for neglecting other critical issues, such as border security, support for Ukraine, and humanitarian aid.
The administration urged Congress to reject the political maneuver and support the Senate’s border bill. OMB reiterated that if presented with H.R. 7217, President Biden would veto it.
In response, House Speaker Johnson condemned the president’s veto threat, characterizing it as a betrayal of Israel. He urged supporters of Israel and opponents of Iran to pass the aid package despite the president’s objections.
