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A growing group of lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle is calling on President Trump to reverse the Pentagon’s recent decision to halt critical weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed it was halting a shipment of critical weapons to Ukraine, citing concerns over diminishing US munitions stockpiles and the need to preserve military readiness. Defense officials said the pause followed an internal review of US capabilities, which flagged certain high-precision munitions as nearing low levels. Among the items being withheld are Patriot air defense missiles, Stinger surface-to-air systems, 155mm artillery shells, precision-guided GMLRS rockets, AIM air-to-air missiles for F-16s, and various drones (all of which are essential for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s intensifying aerial and ground assaults). Ukrainian officials have warned that delays in receiving these systems could significantly weaken their ability to protect civilians and infrastructure amid escalating attacks.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, some key Republican and Democratic lawmakers are now joining forces in condemning the Pentagon’s decision to halt vital weapons shipments to Ukraine, urging President Trump to immediately resume the aid. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), a longtime advocate for supporting Ukraine, called the timing of the pause damaging to US leverage over Russia, stating, “If you want to get [Putin] to the negotiating table in good faith, you have to put leverage and pressure on him… If you take the flow of weapons out, then you don’t have the leverage over Putin to negotiate.” He added that withholding aid now “weakens President Trump’s noble attempts at peace.”
Democratic lawmakers echoed similar frustrations. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) described the Pentagon’s justification as “fallacious and maybe even disingenuous,” warning that the delay would cost lives: “More civilians are going to lose more lives, more people will be maimed and injured — more homes, hospitals, and schools will be destroyed.” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, challenged the Defense Department’s rationale, saying, “We are not at any lower point, stockpile-wise, than we’ve been in the 3½ years of the Ukraine conflict.”
This all comes as some outlets are reporting friction among Trump administration officials over the decision to halt military aid to Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ordered the suspension, was supported by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official and a longtime proponent of shifting US military focus toward China. On the other side, National Security Adviser Marco Rubio and key figures at the State Department were reportedly blindsided by the halt, with some viewing the move as undermining President Trump’s stated support for Ukraine at the recent NATO summit.
