PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Federal spending records show U.S. taxpayers will fund nearly $1 million in June alone for congressional travel to Ukraine, with millions more allocated for State Department staff and logistics.
👤Who’s Involved: The U.S. Department of State, International-Business Center Tov, Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
⚠️Fallout: The spending raises concerns that Americans are footing the bill for congressional junkets that promote prolonged involvement in Ukraine’s war—while the conflict escalates dangerously, including a Ukrainian strike on Russian nuclear bombers.
📌Significance: The revelation fuels growing criticism that Congress is using taxpayer money to stage foreign trips supporting forever wars abroad, even as experts warn of rising nuclear risk.
IN FULL:
U.S federal government spending data reveals that the contracts to provide accommodations, transportation, and security for Congressional delegations traveling to Ukraine will cost American taxpayers nearly $1 million, at least, in the month of June. According to USASpending.gov—the federal government’s official website for tracking expenditure—the U.S Department of State entered into two contracts with an entity called International-Business Center Tov, a for-profit company that provides logistical and accommodation services for American lawmakers and other government officials.
In addition to the two contracts to source accommodations, transportation, and security for U.S. congressional delegations, the State Department will pay out at least another $4 million to International-Business Center Tov to source housing and provide other logistical services for its employees and other federal agency staff stationed in Ukraine. In 2024, the U.S. federal government paid out $7.3 million to the company, with $3.6 million paid in 2023. Meanwhile, a total of $5.2 million will be paid to International-Business Center Tov in 2025.
While it is routine for the State Department to contract with companies to source housing, hotel accommodations, transportation, and security for its overseas staff and official U.S. government delegations, the spending does raise concerns that taxpayer dollars are essentially subsidizing efforts by some members of Congress who wish to prolong Ukraine’s war with Russia. Congressional delegations (CODELs) are often sent to countries to conduct oversight of treaty obligations and U.S. government facilities; however, travel to Ukraine has been used by lawmakers like Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to actively push for continued war and additional American military aid.
Notably, both Graham and Blumenthal traveled to Ukraine on May 31 to meet with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and other government and military officials. The next day, Ukraine launched an unprecedented drone strike operation targeting four military airbases deep inside Russia, reportedly damaging nuclear-capable strategic bombers and nuclear early warning aircraft. While Ukraine’s daring military operation appears to have been a success, experts warn it could significantly escalate Russia’s willingness to deploy nuclear weapons.
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