Sponsor
Joshua David Hawley
Senator · R-MO
Senator · R-MO
Introduced February 20, 2025 by Joshua David Hawley · Last progress February 20, 2025
Creates a temporary independent oversight office to increase transparency, accountability, and potential recovery of misspent U.S. aid to Ukraine, but it imposes modest new costs, administrative burdens that could slow assistance, and risks from public reporting of sensitive details.
Taxpayers and Congress get stronger independent oversight and regular public and classified reporting on U.S. assistance to Ukraine, increasing transparency and reducing opportunities for waste.
Ukraine security assistance (both lethal and nonlethal) will be tracked for end-use compliance, improving accountability and lowering the risk of diversion or misuse of sensitive equipment.
Taxpayers could recover misspent or overpaid funds because the independent inspector general must investigate irregularities and refer unlawful conduct to DOJ for recovery or prosecution.
U.S. national-security operations and program implementers could be harmed if required reporting publicly discloses sensitive details about assistance, even with a classified annex option.
Department of State, Department of Defense, and USAID staff could face added personnel/time burdens and reporting requirements that slow or complicate delivery of program resources to Ukraine.
U.S. taxpayers indirectly bear a roughly $70 million cost in FY2025 to stand up the office, and that amount reduces the Economic Support Fund for Ukraine by $70 million, offsetting other aid.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an independent Inspector General and office to audit and investigate all U.S. military and nonmilitary support for Ukraine with subpoena power and protections from agency interference.
Creates an independent Office of the Inspector General for Ukraine with a Presidentially appointed, Senate‑confirmed Inspector General (to be named within 30 days of enactment) who has independent authority to audit and investigate all U.S. military and nonmilitary support for Ukraine. The IG will appoint Assistant Inspectors General for Auditing and for Investigations, have subpoena power, be paid at Executive Schedule Level IV, and is protected from interference by State, Defense, and USAID officers when carrying out audits or investigations.