Defense Secretary Suspends Ammunition Supplies to Ukraine Without Informing the White House, According to Reports
The U.S. has resumed its weapons shipments to Ukraine following a brief pause last week. The decision, made within the Defense Department, was due to a review of diminishing Pentagon arms stockpiles and a desire to align foreign aid with U.S. interests.
According to reports, the pause in the delivery of military equipment, which included Patriot air defense interceptors, precision artillery rounds, and missiles for American-made F-16 jets, was initially made without direct notification to the White House. The decision was driven by Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
The White House was later informed about the pause, and it was announced that the shipments would resume. The arms package in question was already in transit when it was halted, and it had been approved under the previous administration.
President Donald Trump distanced himself from the decision to pause weapons shipments to Ukraine during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He emphasized the bravery of Ukrainians using U.S.-provided equipment and later announced that weapons shipments to Ukraine would resume, including key interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
This is the second time this year that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has unilaterally halted arms shipments to Ukraine without warning senior officials. U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were not informed of the pause in advance.
The Pentagon conducted a review of all foreign aid to ensure alignment with U.S. interests, and Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson described the framework for assessing aid and stockpiles as coordinated across the government.
The shifting explanations around the pause have drawn scrutiny, but the official rationale centered on stockpile concerns and policy adjustment. The arms package for Ukraine had been approved by Congress in the spring of 2024, and its resumption is a testament to the U.S.'s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
[1] Atlantic Council analysis of Politico's reporting:
The unilateral pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine by the Defense Department, as led by Elbridge Colby, has garnered attention in war-and-conflicts and general-news circles, particularly due to the lack of direct White House notification. Politically, the shifting explanations around the pause have drawn scrutiny.
Reports suggest that this decision is not an isolated incident, as it marks the second time this year that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has halted arms shipments without informing senior officials like the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine and the Secretary of State in advance. These events underscore the significance of politics in such military aid decisions.
