May 22, 2023 11:48am EDT
Biden national security adviser pressed on $3 billion mistake in Ukraine aid: ‘Hell of an accounting error’
Deputy Defense Secretary Sabrina Singh told Fox News Digital that the 'over-valuation' is 'at least $3 billion' but that support for Ukraine will continue
By Jeffrey Clark | Fox News Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan was grilled on CNN Sunday after the Pentagon revealed that the U.S. made at least a $3 billion accounting error in valuing the weapons that it has sent to Ukraine.
"There was this very bizarre admission from the Pentagon this week of an accounting error that suggested that the U.S. has at least $3 billion that it didn’t know it had that it can use for Ukraine aid," CNN anchor Jaker Tapper said.
"That’s a hell of an accounting error. And it provides a lot of fodder to critics of U.S. aid to Ukraine, and critics who say there’s not enough oversight going on. Are you concerned about this accounting error?" Tapper asked Sullivan.
The Pentagon admitted Thursday that it overestimated the value of weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $3 billion amidst criticism from GOP members of Congress that American funding for the war in Ukraine threatens further escalation of the conflict, according to AP News. Sullivan, however, argued that the $3 billion was a fortunate accounting mistake that will allow even more funding for weapons to Ukraine.
Deputy Defense Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told Fox News Digital in a statement that "the Department discovered inconsistencies in equipment valuation for Ukraine" during its "oversight process of presidential drawdown packages."
"In some cases, ‘replacement cost’ rather than ‘net book value’ was used, therefore overestimating the value of the equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks. This over-valuation has not constrained our support to Ukraine nor impacted our ability to flow capabilities to the battlefield," Singh said.
more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-national-security-adviser-pressed-3-billion-mistake-ukraine-aid-hell-accounting-error
