More than $5 billion worth of U.S. arms exports intended for NATO allies and Ukraine’s defense have been suspended due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, according to a State Department assessment obtained by Axios.
This marks yet another consequence of the 40-day government shutdown, which has already led to program suspensions, delays, and furloughs across numerous federal agencies.
Among the weapons affected are AMRAAM missiles, Aegis combat systems, and HIMARS rocket systems, destined for countries such as Denmark, Croatia, and Poland. It remains unclear whether any of these weapons would have been directly transferred to Ukraine, though NATO sales often serve to support Kyiv indirectly.
The frozen deals include both direct government-to-government sales and export licenses for private U.S. defense contractors. Under normal circumstances, these processes move swiftly and with minimal debate.
However, the Arms Export Control Act requires Congressional review for all arms sales, and many State Department staff members responsible for briefing Congressional committees have been furloughed, resulting in major delays.
A senior official told Axios that the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the State Department was operating last month with only about 25% of its usual staff, severely hampering workflow.
