Pentagon improperly tracked $1B worth of weapons sent to Ukraine, report shows

WASHINGTON (TND) — The Defense Department has improperly tracked more than $1 billion worth of weapons sent to Ukraine by the U.S., according to a new report.

The Pentagon inspector general reportstates approximately 59% of the Defense Department’s supplied arms have not been inventoried within the mandated 90 days of arrival.

“While the DOD has improved execution of [enhanced end-use monitoring] since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the DOD did not fully comply with the EEUM program requirements for defense article accountability in a hostile environment,” the report reads.

The inspector general revealed the lapse occurred due to the limited number of Office of Defense Cooperation–Ukraine personnel, absence of procedures for conducting EEUM in a hostile environment for the war’s first year and EEUM staff’s movement restrictions within Ukraine. A lack of control over validating data also contributed to the error.

“Until the DOD resolves these challenges, it will be unable to fully comply with the EEUM program requirements to account for all of the more than $1.699 billion in EEUM-designated defense articles provided to Ukraine,” the report concludes.

The inspector general recommended the Defense Department coordinate with the State Department and improve inventory procedures for supplied weapons. It also suggests the Defense Department improve the "completeness” and “timeliness” of loss reporting.

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On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley debated whether the U.S. should continue sending Ukraine aid. Haley argued helping Ukraine will deter Russia from invading neighboring NATO countries, which would drag the U.S. into a war. She claimed it could also prevent China from invading Taiwan.

“This is about preventing war,” Haley said. “You only do that when you focus on national security, not telling lies to the American people that they have to choose. That is wrong.”

DeSantis argued increased funding is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

On Dec. 27, the U.S. announced a $250 million weapons package for Ukraine. The supplies, drawn from Pentagon stockpiles, include an array of air munitions, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition and demolition and medical equipment.

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It may be the final aid bundle unless Congress approves supplemental funding.

“Once those funds are obligated, we will have exhausted the funding available for us to provide security assistance to Ukraine," Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said last month. "We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that we've submitted ... It is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require."