Reps. Jason Crow, Michael Waltz Urge Secretary Blinken to Increase Oversight of US Aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), former Army Ranger, and Congressman Michael Waltz (R-FL) sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urging increased oversight of the roughly $100 billion of US aid to support the war in Ukraine. 

The letter calls for inspectors general to be allowed on the ground in Ukraine to directly oversee the use and disbursement of US humanitarian and military aid. Thus far, the State Department embassy cap has limited the number of US personnel allowed into Ukraine, significantly impairing the ability to carry out their essential oversight functions. 

“Ukraine is at a crucial time in this war, and the US, with the support of the Biden Administration, continues to offer unprecedented aid in their fight for freedom,” said Congressman Crow. “While there’s no evidence of aid being mishandled, it’s our responsibility to be a good steward of Coloradan taxpayer dollars and get aid where it’s needed most.”

“It’s critical Congress get a full accounting of lethal and humanitarian aid being sent to Ukraine,” said Congressman Waltz. “We have a responsibility to American taxpayers to ensure these funds and lethal munitions are being used responsibly and do not fall into the wrong hands.”

Congressman Crow has strongly supported US aid to Ukraine, including visiting Ukraine last year, urging additional US military and humanitarian aid throughout the war, and more recently calling for the US to provide F-16 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

Crow sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently named Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with text appearing below:     

March 6, 2023 

Dear Secretary Blinken:                                   

We applaud you for restoring embassy Kiev operations last May and the heroic work of the embassy staff. We were also heartened to read that the Biden administration intends to fully staff the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine by this summer.Since Russia’s most recent invasion in Ukraine, the Administration has led an unprecedented and historic effort to arm the Ukrainians and provide humanitarian aid.

As members of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, we want to ensure that the Departments of Defense (DOD), State (DOS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are able to conduct effective inspector general (IG) oversight of the nearly $100 billion-plus of congressionally approved military support and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. This we owe to the American people. We believe the Administration’s establishment of the Ukraine Oversight Interagency Working Group, last September, was a strong step in the right direction.

We were heartened to see that the IGs from DOD, DOS, and USAID recently traveled to Ukraine, Poland, and Germany in furtherance of their coordinated oversight of U.S. assistance to Ukraine. However, it is our understanding that the current State Department embassy cap is limiting IG staff from traveling to Ukraine. As of present, no other IG personnel have been authorized to travel to Ukraine to conduct oversight. During a recent briefing from the IGs of DOS, USAID, and DOD, all three leaders expressed the challenges to conduct audits, inspections, investigations, and evaluations from outside Ukraine.

There is precedent for IG personnel to travel to war zones to conduct their critically important oversight role. During the post 9/11 wars, personnel from the lead IG agencies often traveled to conflict zones such as Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to conduct oversight activities.

Likewise, we urge you to consider opportunities to allow IG personnel from DOD, DOS, and USAID to travel to Ukraine for a limited duration to carry out their essential oversight functions. As elected officials, we are granted the public’s trust to ensure accountability that federal funds are used effectively. However, we will struggle to fulfill our own congressional oversight responsibilities without empowered IGs to carry out their respective missions.

Therefore, we request you provide responses to the following questions:

• Do you share the DOD, DOS and USAID IG’s views regarding their ability to conduct effective oversight from outside Ukraine? 

• Will you consider adjusting the U.S. personnel cap for Ukraine to allow temporary opportunities for IG personnel to conduct oversight activities in Ukraine?                         

We look forward to your response and are grateful for the embassy staff in Kiev who are working on the front lines to support the Ukrainians in defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
                                                                       
Sincerely,                                                          

Jason Crow                                                          
Member of Congress

Michael Waltz                                                        
Member of Congress