Comer: Biden Administration Will Be Held Accountable for Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal

Sends letters to the White House, DOD, State, DHS, USAID, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff renewing requests for all documents and communications related to the Afghanistan catastrophe

WASHINGTON – House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) sent letters to senior leadership at the White House, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Department of State (State), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff renewing requests for all documents and communications related to the Biden Administration’s failed Afghanistan withdrawal. Ranking Member Comer and Oversight Republicans have been seeking information into the Afghanistan withdrawal since August 2021, but the Biden Administration continues to obstruct congressional oversight as well as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s (SIGAR) investigations.  

“It has been over a year since the Biden Administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal and the American people have not received any answers about this national security and humanitarian catastrophe. U.S. servicemen and women lost their lives, thousands of Americans were abandoned, billions of taxpayer dollars are still unaccounted for, military equipment fell into the hands of the Taliban, progress for Afghan women has stalled, and the entire region is under hostile Taliban control. Under a Republican majority, the Biden Administration’s obstruction of this investigation will be met with the power of the gavel,” said Ranking Member James Comer. “We owe it to the American people to provide answers, transparency, and accountability. Oversight Republicans expect every relevant department and agency to cooperate and provide all requested information. We will leave no stone unturned as we seek answers for the American people.”

Ranking Member Comer and Oversight Committee Republicans have been aggressively pursuing information about the Biden Administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Despite requesting hearings in August 2021, September 2021, and January 2022, Committee Democrats never held a public hearing on the Afghanistan withdrawal. Additionally, Ranking Member Comer and Oversight Committee Republicans sought information over 10 times from the Biden Administration, but it failed to provide the requested information.

Ranking Member Comer sent the following letters calling for documents, communications, and information related to the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, evacuation, and vetting and screening of Afghans relocating to the U.S. He also requests the declassification of certain documents to provide transparency to the American people.

·     Letter to DOD Secretary Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Milley

·     Letter to State Secretary Blinken

·     Letter to the White House National Security Affairs Director Jake Sullivan

·     Letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas

·     Letter to USAID Administrator Power

·     Letter to State, DOD, and USAID related to declassification of information