U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-GA, introduced legislation last week to mandate oversight and accountability for aid being sent to Ukraine for “use in its defense against Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.”
The legislation would require the Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to produce a publicly available quarterly report on assistance to Ukraine, along with recommendations for future oversight.
“As we continue to lead international assistance to Ukraine, Americans deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent,” said McCormick. “I support standing with Ukraine, and I support fiscal responsibility. That’s why I have introduced the Ukraine Aid Oversight Act to guarantee that American taxpayer money is being used for the defense against Russia’s invasion, not to enrich bad people or be wasted frivolously.”
Republican support for Ukraine has largely stayed strong in Congress, though a few Congressional members have questioned whether the U.S. should be involved. The legislation from McCormick would also require that the Offices of the Inspector General for each cabinet agency have at least one staff member on the ground in Ukraine to conduct oversight of aid. The bill also gives these offices funding and flexibility to hire those necessary for the purposes of the report and oversight.
Earlier this year, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-KY, called on the relevant government agencies to provide documents and information to ensure dollars are being protected from waste, fraud and abuse.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting oversight of the federal government’s administration of U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance to Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago, Congress has provided more than $113 billion for security, humanitarian, economic, and governance assistance. It is critical that government agencies administering these funds ensure they are used for their intended purposes to prevent and reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Comer and other Republicans in a letter to the Department of Defense.
At the time, in February, more than $110 billion had been spent on Ukraine defense.
In March, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, sponsored an amendment that would have established a special inspector general dedicated solely to Ukraine funding oversight. That vote failed 26-68 but did receive votes from Georgia’s Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
A report released shortly after found nearly 200 complaints about misuse of funds submitted but no significant waste, fraud or abuse was substantiated. The report further stated that the current offices of Inspector General for these department have 250 personnel working on oversight, with more than 40 in Europe.
