A senior Republican lawmaker has told President Barack Obama she was prepared to block foreign aid money if the administration did not provide fighter jets and tanks to Egypt and arms to other regional allies fighting Islamic State militants.

In a letter to Obama, Kay Granger, chairwoman of the House of Representatives State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee, said Egypt needs F-16 aircraft, M1A1 Abrams tanks and other weapons that have been held up since 2013. Granger has the power to place holds on foreign aid, including general assistance and weapons shipments.

Granger urged the administration to give Iraqi Kurds tools and training to fight Islamic State and to make providing weapons to Jordan a priority, according to the letter, seen by Reuters on Friday.

Dated Thursday, the letter criticised the administration as Congress is about to consider Obama's request for formal authority for a military campaign against Islamic State. Republicans, who took control of the US Congress in January, have pressed for more robust American military involvement in fighting the militants, who have killed thousands of civilians while seizing territory in Iraq and Syria.

I am prepared to do everything within my power to make sure this occurs

“As Egypt, Jordan, and the Kurds retaliate and defend themselves against Islamic State’s heinous acts, US security assistance is being held or delayed by bureaucratic processes and ill-advised policy decisions by your administration,” Granger wrote, using an acronym for Islamic State. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he had not seen Granger’s comments, but welcomed her interest in the issue. He said the administration has been focused on maintaining a strong security relationship with its allies and partners in the Middle East “for quite some time”.

Granger said she was calling on the White House to “immediately release” remaining weapons and funds to Egypt, provide Jordan with weapons it had requested and ensure the Kurdish Peshmerga have equipment they need.

“I am prepared to do everything within my power to make sure this occurs, including placing holds on Congressional Notifications (spending plans) and drafting legislation to hold your Administration accountable,” Granger wrote.

Lockheed Martin Corp, which makes the F-16 fighter jet, said the aircraft built for Egypt were part of a foreign military sales agreement between the US and Egypt. The Abrams tanks are made by General Dynamics Corp.

Twelve of 20 F-16s built by Lockheed under its last contract with Egypt are in storage at Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility. They have been formally transferred to the US government, which is paying Lockheed to store and maintain them.