White House Says NATO Arms Deal Will Curb U.S. ‘Blank Checks’ for Wars

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will move away from providing what she called “blank checks” to fund military conflicts overseas. Speaking on Tuesday, Leavitt stated that the President, who took office in January, has directed officials to scrutinize defense-aid packages more closely to ensure they are “sensitive to the needs of the American taxpayer.” Leavitt added that the White House has reached an agreement under which NATO members will purchase additional U.S.-made weapons, a change intended to shift more of the financial burden to European allies while supporting domestic defense manufacturers. She did not disclose the volume or value of prospective orders, nor did she specify which conflicts might see reduced U.S. funding.