House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pledged to address funding for Ukraine in a “timely manner” after meeting with congressional leaders and President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday.
Johnson has shown reluctance to act on the president’s request for more than $60 billion in aid. After the Senate passed a defense bill approving the money earlier this month, the speaker said the House would not be “rushed” to take up the legislation.
Worse yet for Biden, he indicated the proposal would be dead on arrival without significant changes in border policy that the president has so far resisted.
Johnson reiterated the demand for border security on Tuesday, telling reporters outside the White House that he “repeatedly” brought it up in the meeting with congressional leaders, Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. He also revealed a one-on-one with Biden shortly thereafter in which border security was discussed.
However, the speaker simultaneously reassured the leaders that he would not drag his feet on Ukraine.
“I was very clear with the president and all those in the room that the House is actively pursuing and investigating all the various options on that, and we will address that in a timely manner,” he said of the funding.
Johnson is under immense pressure to give the aid a floor vote as Ukraine runs short on ammunition and other weaponry in its war against Russia.
He has voiced hope for the bill in principle. Just this month, he said the United States should use “every means possible” to defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin after the mysterious death of his chief political rival.
But his steep demands on the border, plus his stated misgivings about approving the aid without a clear exit strategy, have sown doubts about whether Johnson will bring it up. Democrats are mulling a legislative maneuver called a discharge petition that would allow them to force the vote, but so far, not enough lawmakers have signed on board.
The congressional gridlock extends beyond Ukraine. The leaders also met to negotiate a spending deal to avert a partial government shutdown on Friday.
Johnson emerged from the White House meeting hopeful that he could reach an agreement with Biden and the Democratic-controlled Senate. “We’re very optimistic,” he said of government funding, echoing the sentiment of his counterparts.
But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) suggested the visit turned contentious over Ukraine. “It was both a productive and an intense meeting,” Schumer told reporters on Tuesday.
Johnson was the only leader at the White House wary of more aid. Democrats have stood behind Biden’s request, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is one of the aid’s most vocal backers.
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And Tuesday’s meeting was hardly the first attempt to pressure Johnson to act quickly. Biden invited congressional leaders for a Ukraine briefing at the White House just six weeks ago.
“The overwhelming sentiment in that meeting was we got to do Ukraine now. And there are other issues, including border, which we should address, but not now,” Schumer said.
