Trump urged to fund $5,000 payments with money allocated to Ukraine

Friday 11 September 2026 - 09:15

By: Azzat Manal

Trump urged to fund $5,000 payments with money allocated to Ukraine

A Republican member of the U.S. Congress has suggested redirecting part of the country’s foreign aid budget, including funds allocated to Ukraine, to finance President Donald Trump’s proposal to provide $5,000 payments to American citizens.

Representative Anna Paulina Luna made the proposal during an interview with Fox News, arguing that some money currently sent overseas could instead be returned to the American public. She specifically pointed to foreign assistance as a possible source of funding for the initiative.

“We can easily redirect some of the foreign aid sent abroad, perhaps some of what is being sent to Ukraine, and give it to the American people,” Luna said.

Her comments come after Trump announced a proposed $5,000 payment for eligible adult Americans during the opening day of the Republican Party conference in Dallas. Trump linked the proposal to the Republican Party maintaining or strengthening its control of Congress following the upcoming midterm elections.

The idea has raised questions about how such a large-scale payment program could be financed and implemented. Any decision to redirect funds appropriated for foreign assistance would require congressional action and would depend on the legal and budgetary framework governing those funds.

The proposal also comes amid continued political debate in Washington over U.S. support for Ukraine and the broader role of American foreign assistance. Republicans and Democrats remain divided over the scale and duration of aid to Kyiv, while the administration has repeatedly emphasized the need to reassess how federal resources are allocated.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has previously argued that Washington should halt assistance to Kyiv in order to accelerate efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. His comments reflect Moscow’s broader position that continued Western military and financial support prolongs the conflict.

The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for November 3. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, while 33 of the 100 Senate seats are also scheduled for election.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, meaning the outcome of the midterm elections could have a significant impact on the administration’s ability to advance major spending and economic initiatives.

For Trump, the proposed $5,000 payment represents a politically significant promise, but turning the proposal into a nationwide program would require detailed funding arrangements, congressional approval and a clear definition of eligibility. The debate over whether foreign aid could provide part of the financing is therefore likely to remain closely tied to the broader discussion over federal spending and U.S. foreign policy.