US funding for Israel

The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border.

The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion, reports Associated Press (AP).

President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening US support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night.

The Democratic president's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Friday that Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas' attack on Israel represent a “global inflection point." “This budget request is critical to advancing America's national security and ensuring the safety of the American people,” Sullivan said.

However, next steps are in doubt while the House of Representatives remains in chaos with the Republican majority unable to choose a new speaker.