President Joe Biden’s administration has officially notified Congress of its intention to forgive Ukraine’s $4.65 billion debt, a move tied to ongoing efforts to support the country amid its conflict with Russia.

This debt represents half of the $9 billion provided to Kyiv as part of the $61 billion aid package approved by Washington in April. Unlike other forms of assistance, this funding was issued as conditionally repayable loans, with provisions allowing the United States President to cancel up to 50% of the debt if deemed necessary.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department explained that the debt cancellation is intended to “help Ukraine win” and serves the national interests of the U.S., the EU, G7+, and NATO.”

According to Bloomberg, President Biden is determined to maximize aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. However, the decision to write off the debt has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans.

Republican Senator Rand Paul argued that the Biden administration’s decision places undue financial burden on the American public. He pledged to demand a vote in the Senate to challenge the proposal.

Despite this, Bloomberg notes that any effort to overturn the debt cancellation would require approval from both houses of Congress, a scenario that appears unlikely given the Democratic majority in the Senate. Furthermore, President Biden holds veto power, making reversal of the decision even more challenging.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to exhaust all remaining aid approved by Congress before President Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that one of the administration’s key goals is to position Ukraine as strongly as possible—both militarily and at the negotiating table.

Pentagon officials reported that $9.3 billion in military aid is currently in the pipeline. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed plans for weekly arms deliveries to Kyiv, with the aim of expediting aid distribution before the presidential transition.

On November 20, the Pentagon unveiled an additional $275 million military aid package for Ukraine, further underscoring the administration’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Wall Street investor and campaign donor Howard Lutnick as the new head of the U.S. Department of Commerce, placing the billionaire at the forefront of implementing the sweeping tariffs promised during his presidential campaign.

Lutnick, who co-chaired Trump’s transition team, had previously been considered for the role of Treasury Secretary. He is also the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a prominent investment firm.

In a statement on Tuesday, Trump declared that Lutnick would be “directly responsible” for leading the Commerce Department and overseeing the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

The USTR, established in 1974 to manage negotiations with U.S. trading partners, traditionally reports directly to the president. If confirmed by the Senate, the 63-year-old Lutnick will play a pivotal role in aiding U.S. businesses and executing Trump’s proposed tariffs on international trade partners.

Trump has outlined plans for a 60% tariff on imports from China and a global tariff of up to 20%, signaling a major shift in U.S. trade policy.

Lutnick, despite lacking prior government experience, has been a steadfast advocate for Trump’s economic agenda. During a New York campaign rally, Lutnick remarked, “When was America great? At the turn of the century, our economy was floundering! That was 125 years ago. We had no income tax and all we had were tariffs.”

While Lutnick has emerged as a major donor to Trump, he has also supported establishment Democrats and Republicans in the past, including Chuck Schumer and Jeb Bush. He contributed to both Hillary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 campaigns, hosting a fundraiser for her in 2015. Lutnick maintains a personal friendship with the Clintons, noting their attendance at a Cantor Fitzgerald fundraiser in September 2022.

Lutnick has also maintained a long-standing relationship with Trump, even appearing on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2008. He disclosed to the Financial Times in October that he has donated over $10 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and another $500,000 to the transition team, totaling approximately $75 million.

Treasury Secretary selection process still uncertain

The position of Treasury Secretary, one of the most significant roles in Trump’s administration, remains undecided. Lutnick’s name has been floated for the role, though he faces competition from hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, private equity billionaire Marc Rowan, and former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh.

Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, has emerged as a leading contender and is expected to meet with Trump to present his case. Rowan’s supporters cite his extensive expertise in financial markets, though competition remains fierce.

Forecasting site Polymarket currently lists Warsh as the favorite for Treasury Secretary, followed by Bessent, Rowan, and William Hagerty. If unsuccessful in his bid for Treasury Secretary, Bessent is reportedly vying for the chairmanship of the National Economic Council.

Trump names Mehmet Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid

Trump also announced on Tuesday his nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Describing Oz as “one of the most talented physicians” capable of “making America healthy again,” Trump expressed confidence in Oz’s ability to reduce waste and fraud within the nation’s largest government agency.

Dr. Oz, a former heart surgeon and Columbia University professor, rose to prominence as Oprah Winfrey’s health expert before hosting his own popular talk show. However, his career has been controversial, with critics accusing him of promoting scientifically dubious theories and unproven treatments.

Oz’s political experience includes a 2022 Senate race in Pennsylvania, where he was endorsed by Trump but ultimately lost to Democrat John Fetterman.

Muslim supporters of President-elect Donald Trump have expressed deep disappointment with his cabinet selections, according to US Muslim leaders interviewed by Reuters. These leaders are protesting the administration’s pro-Israel stance, including its support for Israel’s war in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon.

“Trump won because of us, and we are not happy with his choices for secretary of state and other positions,” said Rabiul Chowdhury, a Philadelphia investor who chaired the Abandon Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and co-founded Muslims for Trump.

Muslim support for Trump was a key factor in helping him win Michigan and may have contributed to victories in other swing states, strategists say.

For secretary of state, Trump chose Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a staunch supporter of Israel. Rubio has stated he would not call for a ceasefire in Gaza and believes Israel should destroy “every element” of Hamas, referring to its members as “wild animals.”

Trump also nominated former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a pro-Israel conservative, as the next ambassador to Israel. Huckabee has voiced support for Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and has dismissed the two-state solution as “unworkable.”

Additionally, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, who has called the UN a “cesspool of anti-Semitism,” was selected as the US ambassador to the UN.

Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), stated that Muslim voters had hoped Trump would appoint cabinet members committed to peace, but so far, there are no signs of that. “We are disappointed,” Nazarko said, adding that the new administration appears filled with “neo-conservatives” and “extremely pro-Israel, pro-war individuals.” Nazarko emphasized that the community would continue to push for an end to the war in Gaza.

Hassan Abdel Salam, a former University of Minnesota professor and co-founder of the Abandon Harris campaign, said that while Trump’s staffing plans were unsurprising, they are proving “more extreme” than he feared. “Obviously, we’re still waiting to see where the administration goes, but it looks like our community has been played,” Salam said.

Some Muslim and Arab Trump supporters had hoped that Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence, would play a key role. Grenell had spent months reaching out to Muslim and Arab American communities, even being introduced at events as a potential secretary of state.

Another notable Trump ally, Massad Boulos—the Lebanese father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany—has also met repeatedly with Arab American and Muslim leaders. Both Grenell and Boulos had promised these communities that Trump was a peace candidate who would act swiftly to end wars in the Middle East and beyond.

Trump made several visits to cities with large Arab-American and Muslim populations, including Dearborn, Michigan, where he expressed his affection for Muslims, and Pittsburgh, where he called Muslims a “beautiful movement.”

Mayor Bill Bazzi of neighboring Dearborn Heights, a Trump supporter, stated that he had met the president-elect three times and still believed Trump would work to end the war, despite his cabinet appointments.

Rola Makki, the Lebanese-American Muslim vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party’s outreach arm, agreed. “I don’t think everyone will be happy with every appointment Trump makes, but the end result is what matters,” Makki said.