'What gives?' GOP elder statesman tears into Trump's Pentagon in scathing op-ed

A prominent Senate Republican shredded President Donald Trump's Department of Defense for allowing an unelected official to let congressionally appropriated funds for an ally to sit "collecting dust."

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) penned a new op-ed in The Washington Post on Tuesday, where he bashed Undersecretary Elbridge Colby for stonewalling the release of $400 million in funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He argued that Colby's actions are effectively a continuation of the Biden administration's "anemic" response to the conflict and "hamper[] the prospect of diplomacy."

"I know other officers who are eager to apply Ukrainians’ counter-drone and electronic warfare lessons to the U.S. Army’s preparations for future conflicts," McConnell wrote. "They can’t learn from a war, however, if they can’t properly observe it. The Pentagon nevertheless continues a Biden administration policy of significantly capping the number of military trainers authorized to assist Ukraine and witness the conflict up close."

"Meantime, the Pentagon still won’t tell us why it hasn’t obligated and executed modest Ukraine investments," he added. "If we’re serious about 'drone dominance,' we shouldn’t sandbag a relationship with the world’s foremost drone experts. And if we’re keen on remaining the world’s preeminent superpower, we shouldn’t let unelected defense officials undermine U.S. leadership and obstruct deepening ties with Ukraine’s innovative military and industrial base. What gives?"