Hegseth Grilled Over Zeroing Out Ukraine Aid in 2027 Budget

Lawmakers from both parties pressed Hegseth over delayed funds and compared the situation to the 1930s and Nazi Germany’s expansion, warning that dictators rarely stop when appeased. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, testifies for a US House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “Department of Defense FY2027 Budget Request,” on Capitol Hill on April 29, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced bipartisan criticism in Congress this week after the Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget excluded new funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, effectively zeroing out future military aid allocations for Kyiv under the program. The issue dominated a Senate hearing on Pentagon spending, where lawmakers from both parties challenged the administration’s position and warned that reducing U.S. support could undermine Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Independent Senator Angus King confronted Hegseth with figures showing Europe now carries nearly all financial responsibility for supporting Ukraine. “We don’t have any interest in what happens in Ukraine, is that what you’re saying?” King asked during a tense exchange. Hegseth defended the administration’s approach, arguing that European countries should assume a greater share of the burden. “We want Europe to step up, provide funding, and take on this burden,” Hegseth said. “If this is so important to Europe, then European countries should pay for it.” He added that European allies possess the economic strength necessary to sustain long-term assistance for Kyiv, citing what he described as Europe’s $20 trillion combined economy. While Hegseth argued that Europe should carry the “burden,” reports surfaced today that the European Union is moving forward with its own €90 billion support package for 2026–2027 to help fill the gap left by the U.S. Other Topics of Interest EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Takes Effect, Reshaping Global Trade The deal creates one of the world’s largest free‑trade zones as Brussels looks to diversify trade beyond the US and China. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen also criticized the Pentagon over its handling of previously approved aid. She questioned why Congress had not received detailed plans for the distribution of a recently released $400 million military assistance package. According to lawmakers, the funding had been delayed inside the Pentagon for weeks before finally being released in late April. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, now chair of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, also published a scathing op-ed in The Washington Post, accusing the Pentagon of “stonewalling” and “sitting on” bipartisan aid for Ukraine. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham pushed back against Hegseth’s suggestion that it “remains to be seen” whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would stop at Ukraine. Graham compared the situation to the 1930s and Nazi Germany’s expansion, warning that dictators rarely stop when appeased. The proposed FY2027 defense budget, valued at roughly $1.5 trillion, has now become a central flashpoint in Washington’s debate over future US involvement in the war. While the administration insists European allies should lead future support efforts, critics in Congress argue that abandoning Ukraine funding risks emboldening Russian aggression, weakening US credibility, and accelerating a broader conflict. Lawmakers warn that this approach signals American retreat, potentially forcing a more costly intervention later. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.