Biden Treasury Secretary Says U.S. Can ‘Certainly’ Afford Funding New Wars

President Biden’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the United States can “certainly” afford funding the wars in Ukraine and now Israel.

QUICK FACTS:

• Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary recently said that the U.S. can provide aid toward the wars in Ukraine and Israel. 
• “America can certainly afford to stand with Israel and to support Israel’s military needs, and we also can and must support Ukraine in its struggle against Russia,” Yellen said.
• The treasury secretary said the U.S. is in support of Israel but is apprehensive about civilian deaths. 
• “America has also made clear to Israel, we’re working very closely with the Israelis, that they have a right to defend themselves,” Yellen continued. “But it’s important to try to spare innocent civilian lives to the maximum extent possible.”
• The 77-year-old claims both Israel and Ukraine are a “priority” and the U.S. needs to come up with funds for both countries.

Q: “Can America.. afford another War at this time?”

Janet Yellen: “I think the answer is absolutely” pic.twitter.com/pZWJgTsuly

— ALX 🎃 (@alx) October 16, 2023

TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN ON THE U.S. FUNDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND ISRAEL:

“We do need to come up with funds, both for Israel and for Ukraine. This is a priority,” Yellen said. 

BACKGROUND:

• In February 2023, Yellen announced the U.S. would be providing $10 billion in taxpayer dollars to Ukraine “in coming months.”
• “The United States and our allies are proud to support the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom,” Yellen said at the time at the G-20 finance summit in India.
• She claimed U.S. funding was necessary and essential to keep the Ukranian government running.
• “The United States has provided over $46 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Our military assistance includes key defensive weapons that Ukraine has asked for — such as the Patriot missile defense system. And our economic assistance is making Ukraine’s resistance possible by supporting the home front: funding critical public services and helping keep the government running,” the secretary continued. “In the coming months, we expect to provide around $10 billion in additional economic support for Ukraine,” she said.