Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida, bringing with it devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. The Seminole Tribe of Florida should have access to the federal resources required for emergency response and recovery preparations on...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to potentially hinder or obstruct the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio...
This year marks the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel. 32 Americans died in those attacks, and four of the Americans taken hostage that day remain in captivity. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a video remembering the...
Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s gulf coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with the Florida Farm Bureau as well as local agricultural producers, farmers, and growers to discuss the storm’s impact. Photos are courtesy of...
Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with local officials and volunteers from the barrier islands to discuss the storm’s impact and current recovery efforts. Photos are courtesy of...
Recent reporting suggested that the Pentagon had inconsistently calculated the value of the military equipment sent to Ukraine, resulting in a $3 billion accounting “error.” Now, there are concerns that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) officials are actually undervaluing the equipment sent to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Undervaluing the equipment means it will be more expensive for the American taxpayer to replace in order to defend the U.S. and its interests.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting a full GAO review of DoD’s accounting for all equipment provided to Ukraine under PDA, and how it compares with the valuation of equipment provided to other countries using PDA.
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Comptroller Dodaro:
I write with regard to the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) recent $3 billion accounting “error” where the Biden Administration inconsistently calculated the value of the military equipment given to Ukraine as part of presidential drawdown authorities (PDA). Instead of consistently tabulating the value based on the replacement costs for all donated equipment, DoD appears now to be using the depreciated value of the equipment. As such, I request a full GAO review of DoD’s accounting of all equipment provided to Ukraine under PDA since the Russian invasion in 2022 and how it compares with the valuation of equipment provided to other countries using PDA. This will ensure U.S. taxpayers are not footing an even larger bill to replace the equipment needed to defend the U.S. and its interests.
While 22 U.S.C. §2318 gives the President leeway in the valuation of equipment it donates, this inconsistent calculation enables DoD to skirt Congressional caps on donations. Additionally, because Congress will need to appropriate funds to replace the equipment, lawmakers should be aware of DoD’s methodology when calculating equipment values.
DoD plays an important role in supporting our allies and partners, but Congress needs to know the true costs of the use of PDA. For this reason, I ask for a GAO review of DoD’s accounting of all equipment provided to Ukraine under these authorities, and a review of the DoD’s process for valuing the equipment and whether it was the depreciated or replacement value.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,