Comer Announces Hearing on Biden Administration’s Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) will hold a hearing titled “The Biden Administration’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General.” This full committee hearing will examine the work completed by the IG community regarding the Biden Administration’s failed Afghanistan withdrawal, and the factors that led to the collapse of the Afghan government. Since the botched withdrawal, the Biden Administration has been slow to provide information to Congress and has even obstructed the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s (SIGAR) congressionally mandated investigations.

“President Biden and his Administration’s decisions during the Afghanistan withdrawal led to the deaths of 13 servicemembers, left Americans completely stranded, allowed U.S. military equipment to fall into Taliban hands, jeopardized progress made by Afghan women, and destabilized the entire region. This Administration not only continues to provide excuses for the self-inflicted humanitarian and national security catastrophe, but senior officials are actively obstructing meaningful congressional oversight. The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing with SIGAR as well as Inspectors General for the Department of Defense, Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development to examine their work on the factors that led to the collapse of Afghanistan. I look forward to their testimony as we work to hold this Administration accountable and get Americans’ answers,” said Chairman Comer.

WHAT: Hearing titled “The Biden Administration’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General.”

DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 2023

TIME: 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Mr. Robert Storch, Inspector General, Department of Defense (DOD)
Ms. Diana Shaw, Acting Inspector General, Department of State (State)
Ms. Nicole Angarella, Acting Deputy Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Mr. John Sopko, Inspector General, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)

The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://oversight.house.gov/.

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