White House cautiously optimistic about House Speaker's plan for Ukraine, Israel aid

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House struck a cautiously optimistic tone Tuesday after House Speaker Mike Johnson rolled out his plan to provide funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that while the Biden administration is still waiting to receive more detailed information about the plan, it appears to meet US President Joe Biden's national security funding priorities "at first blush."

"It does appear at first blush that the speaker's proposals will in fact help us get aid to Ukraine, aid to Israel and needed resources to the Indo-Pacific for a wide range of contingencies there," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "But we're waiting to get a little bit more detailed before we say one way or the other."

The White House had said it would oppose a stand-alone funding bill for Israel that did not include funding for Ukraine and other top-level national security items.

Biden's $95 billion national security supplemental had languished in the House for months after it overwhelmingly cleared the Senate by a 70 - 29 vote in February. That bill includes more than $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, nearly $2.5 billion for US military operations in the Red Sea and $4.8 billion for Indo-Pacific partners.

Johnson has been facing stalwart opposition from his right flank to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote, and it is unclear what the funding levels that may clear the House will be ultimately. The speaker signaled during a closed-door meeting late Monday with his conference to have the House vote on four separate bills.

Three would separately fund Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and other Pacific allies. A fourth would include allocations for other foreign policy priorities.

Biden spoke with Johnson about details of his planning to usher the funding through his chamber, but the White House maintained it is withholding judgment for now.