Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-04-29

Turner Leads Congressional Objection to Department of Defense Unauthorized Pauses in Military Aid to Ukraine

EnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseUkraine

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This press release from Representative Michael R. Turner (R-OH) was published on 2026-04-29 and titled "Turner Leads Congressional Objection to Department of Defense Unauthorized Pauses in Military Aid to Ukraine". It focuses on the environment and touches on foreign policy, defense.

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Turner Leads Congressional Objection to Department of Defense Unauthorized Pauses in Military Aid to Ukraine

$400 Million for Continued Military Support also included in Committee-Passed Bill Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Michael R. Turner (OH-10), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) stating his objections to the week-long pause in military aid to Ukraine instituted by the U.S. Department of Defense without notifying the White House, U.S. Department of State or U.S. Congress. Turner's amendment stated his belief that "the Department of Defense unilaterally canceled or suspended planned shipments of critical offensive and defensive weapons to Ukraine without timely or adequate notification to the Commander-in-Chief, Congress, and operational commanders. The failure to provide prompt notice of such decisions undermines trust, transparency, and the United States' ability to project reliability in support of partners engaged in active conflict now or in the future." The House Armed Services Committee adopted Turner's requirements that the Defense Department provide to Congress a briefing addressing a number of items including its "statutory authorities and regulations applicable to the review, pause, suspension, reallocation or cancellation of the delivery of defense articles that have been committed, but not yet transferred, to Ukraine" as well as its "plans to keep Congress fully and currently informed on any future review that might impact the provision of defense articles to Ukraine as well as any decision to pause, suspend, reallocate or cancel such deliveries." During debate, HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) said Turner "offered a serious amendment to provide real oversight of the aid pauses that have already been addressed and reversed. I supported that amendment." It was agreed to unanimously . The Committee's mark-up comes on the heels of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's announcement that the United States will sell additional weapon systems, including Patriot air defense missile systems, to European nations for use by Ukraine against invading Russian forces. Also included in the Committee-approved FY 2026 NDAA was $400 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative - an increase of $100 million than initially proposed. This amendment was authored by Representative Adam Smith (WA-09) and approved in a bipartisan 48-9 vote with Turner's support. BACKGROUND The House Armed Services Committee debated and approved its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on July 15, 2025. The final vote was 55-2.

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Turner Leads Congressional Objection to Department of Defense Unauthorized Pauses in Military Aid to Ukraine $400 Million for Continued Military Support also included in Committee-Passed Bill Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Michael R. Turner (OH-10), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) stating his objections to the week-long pause in military aid to Ukraine instituted by the U.S. Department of Defense without notifying the White House, U.S. Department of State or U.S. Congress. Turner's amendment stated his belief that "the Department of Defense unilaterally canceled or suspended planned shipments of critical offensive and defensive weapons to Ukraine without timely or adequate notification to the Commander-in-Chief, Congress, and operational commanders. The failure to provide prompt notice of such decisions undermines trust, transparency, and the United States' ability to project reliability in support of partners engaged in active conflict now or in the future." The House Armed Services Committee adopted Turner's requirements that the Defense Department provide to Congress a briefing addressing a number of items including its "statutory authorities and regulations applicable to the review, pause, suspension, reallocation or cancellation of the delivery of defense articles that have been committed, but not yet transferred, to Ukraine" as well as its "plans to keep Congress fully and currently informed on any future review that might impact the provision of defense articles to Ukraine as well as any decision to pause, suspend, reallocate or cancel such deliveries." During debate, HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) said Turner "offered a serious amendment to provide real oversight of the aid pauses that have already been addressed and reversed. I supported that amendment." It was agreed to unanimously . The Committee's mark-up comes on the heels of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's announcement that the United States will sell additional weapon systems, including Patriot air defense missile systems, to European nations for use by Ukraine against invading Russian forces. Also included in the Committee-approved FY 2026 NDAA was $400 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative - an increase of $100 million than initially proposed. This amendment was authored by Representative Adam Smith (WA-09) and approved in a bipartisan 48-9 vote with Turner's support. BACKGROUND The House Armed Services Committee debated and approved its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on July 15, 2025. The final vote was 55-2.