The Biden administration is under fire for its latest “America last” move indicating that it cares more about Ukraine’s military than the United States it has been tasked to leave.
The U.S. Department of Defense on Tuesday announced an additional $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine, offering crucial support during their ongoing counteroffensive against Russia. The aid package includes air defense missiles, armored vehicles, and small drones. The new aid package was first reported by Reuters.
The funding for this assistance comes through Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), allowing the president to swiftly transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval in emergencies. The materials will be sourced from U.S. excess inventory.
This marks the 43rd security assistance package approved by the United States for Ukraine, with a total of over $43 billion in U.S. military aid provided since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Meanwhile, the administration is taking heat for a newly released report that a Gold Star Family was forced to bear the cost of moving their slain daughter’s remains after she was killed during President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from the Afghan War.
Nicole Gee, 23, was among the 13 service members who perished in a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport, along with 170 desperate Afghans attempting to flee the country. The heartrending attack, claimed by ISIS, occurred during the chaotic evacuation near the US embassy on August 26.
According to Republican lawmaker and Army veteran Cory Mills, who met with the families of the fallen service members, one of them was compelled to pay the substantial sum of $60,000 to cover the cost of moving their loved one’s remains.
“Typically, our fallen heroes are flown back home for a solemn service and then laid to a final rest at Arlington Cemetery with the utmost respect and honor,” he told Fox News.
“It is an egregious injustice that grieving families were burdened to shoulder the financial strain of honoring their loved ones,” he added. “This is an unacceptable situation that demands immediate rectification.”
However, Honoring Our Fallen, a non-profit organization supporting families of fallen American service members, stepped in and secured a private aircraft to transport Gee’s body to Arlington, donated by a veteran to honor her.
Initially, Gee’s body was flown to her hometown of Roseville, California, for a ceremony. But later, her family was informed that they would be responsible for the cost of moving her to Arlington National Cemetery, where she would rest.
Mills’ office explained that a change to the National Defense Authorization Act allowed the defense department to decline payment for the transportation of fallen service members’ bodies. It stated that the secretary of defense may grant a commercial air travel use waiver for the transportation of deceased remains of military members who die inside a theater of combat operations.
Mills strongly believes that the defense department should bear the responsibility of covering transportation expenses for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, rather than placing the financial burden on grieving families.
Nicole Gee, who was one of two female Marines killed in the Kabul blast, regularly communicated with her older sister, Misty Fuoco, sharing her passion and enthusiasm for the work she was doing in Afghanistan.
Nicole advocated for positive mental health and was dedicated to helping others. In a message sent to her sister less than two weeks before her death, she expressed excitement about the evacuation and her love for her family.
Her older sister Misty Fuoco, said her sister would text her regularly from Kabul to tell her how ‘amazing’ her job was, and described her as ‘fearless.’
“She was a big advocate of positive mental health and helping others and she was just absolutely thrilled with the work she was doing in Afghanistan,” she said.
“She and I didn’t get to communicate as much as we did before she was deployed but when she did, she would let me know [she was safe],” she added.
In a message sent to Misty on August 14, less than two weeks before she was killed, Nicole wrote: “Don’t be scared either! There’s a lot in the news lately… But there’s a LOT of Marines and soldiers going to provide security. We’ve been training for this evacuation and it’s actually happening so I’m excited for it. Hopefully it’s successful and safe. I love you!!!”
The devastating news of Nicole’s death left her loved ones in shock and disbelief, as they grappled with the painful reality of her untimely passing.
The disparity in treatment between giving Ukraine tens of billions in American taxpayer dollars in an unconstitutional proxy war while short-changing the nation’s most revered families in a time of immense personal trial reflects the misplaced priorities of this administration. Biden truly is the “America Last” president.
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