The Ukraine Aid Bill Is a Massive Windfall for US Military Contractors
Joe Biden has signed a $40 billion aid bill to Ukraine. But the biggest beneficiary isn’t ordinary Ukrainians — it’s the US military contractors set to receive at least $17 billion in additional revenue.

A Ukrainian military tank hidden in an undisclosed defense position seen on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Alex Chan Tsz Yuk / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Last Saturday, Joe Biden signed a bill that provides $40.1 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, including $24.6 billion for military programs and $15.5 billion for nonmilitary ones. By Washington’s standards, the legislation moved through Congress in the blink of an eye. Congress received the funding request from the White House on April 28, and just three weeks later — after easily passing the House (368 to 57) and the Senate (86 to 11) — the bill was ready for Biden’s signature.
But what’s in the bill? Who is the main beneficiary? And will it bring the conflict closer to an end?
While it’s difficult to tell how much of the $40.1 billion Ukraine aid bill will end up as direct aid to Ukraine, it is clear that private contractors will receive a significant amount to provide the weapons and military-related services whether they’re for Ukraine or another country “impacted by the situation in Ukraine,” as the bill puts it. In fact, the domestic arms industry may turn out to be the bill’s main financial winner.