Pentagon Failed to Use $910 Million in Ukraine Aid Under USAI Program on Time

The US Department of War failed to use $910 million allocated for military assistance to Ukraine under the Biden administration’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program on time.

The findings are based on the auditors’ report Operation Atlantic Resolve Including U.S. Government Activities Related to Ukraine, which covers the first quarter of 2026.

The US Congress created the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program to help Ukraine ensure its own defense after Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Since February 2022, the US Congress has allocated a total of $33.51 billion under this program. These funds are spent on purchasing weapons, ammunition, equipment, and services from US industry in Ukraine’s interests.

The US Department of War reported that the supply of defense goods and services funded by the USAI to Ukraine is carried out in accordance with the standards of 5-year procurement contracts.

According to a new report analyzed by Militarnyi, of the total amount of $33.51 billion, $910 million is no longer available for new commitments, $110 million has been allocated but not yet distributed, and $13.49 billion has already been allocated for orders that have not yet been actually paid for.

According to the US Department of War, the value of defense goods and services financed by USAI appropriations and transferred to Ukraine as of March 2026 was $19.21 billion, or 57% of the total amount of USAI appropriations.

Meanwhile, under Pentagon rules, an overdue account or appropriation does not automatically mean the funds are forfeited.

These funds are no longer available for new commitments, but may still be used to cover increases in previously made commitments or to settle existing obligations. The account remains available for such purposes for a 5-year period after the expiration date.

Previously, the Trump Administration requested that military aid to Ukraine be excluded from military budget requests for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

However, the US Senate Appropriations Committee approved a version of the bill that included $800 million in support of Ukraine. This version of the budget later also received bipartisan support in Congress and was approved.

The bill provided $800 million for the USAI — $400 million in 2026 and $400 million in 2027.

The budget also provided $225 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, a significant portion of which would ultimately go to support Ukraine.