Trump diverts $52 million in Ukraine aid to Latin America in defiance of congressional ban

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

The Trump administration has taken $52 million in military aid — funds Congress had specifically set aside to support Ukraine and European allies — and rerouted it to four conservative-led Latin American countries: Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The State Department informed Congress on Wednesday that money originally designated for Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq was being diverted despite a formal hold imposed by senior Democratic lawmakers. The administration's rationale was countering drug-related terrorism and deepening US security partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Korytsky said Kyiv is already operating under extreme austerity and desperately needs international financial support.

The allocations for Slovakia and North Macedonia had been part of a supplemental bill passed specifically to assist countries affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Gregory Meeks warned Rubio that the diversion breached statutory requirements and would damage the State Department's standing with Congress.

'The executive branch does not have unlimited discretion to redirect these funds toward unrelated administration policy priorities,' Democrats wrote to Rubio.