Oversight Republicans: Failure to Hold Hearing on Afghanistan is Dereliction of Duty

Demand Oversight Hearing on Afghanistan Withdrawal and Related Devastation in Kabul

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on National Security Ranking Member Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), U.S. Representative Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), and Oversight Republicans sent a letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) requesting an immediate full Committee hearing to conduct congressional oversight of the deteriorating situation in Kabul, Afghanistan.

“The current state of Afghanistan is a national security crisis. It is a humanitarian crisis. And it is a crisis of leadership,” wrote the Republican lawmakers. “Over the past two Congresses, this Committee has held seven hearings on a range of issues relating to Afghanistan. But surprisingly, you have not announced plans to conduct congressional oversight of the dramatic and deteriorating situation in Kabul. We call on you to immediately convene a hearing of the full Committee. . .To not schedule a hearing is a dereliction of duty and an abdication of congressional authority and responsibility.”  

In the letter, the Republicans note that—for the first time in nearly two decades—the Taliban are the ruling party in Afghanistan. Over 20 years of social gains for women and girls in the region, increased economic security for all Afghans, and the safety of Americans and our allies is now in jeopardy. To conduct critical oversight, the lawmakers are demanding answers to these questions, among others:

• Did President Biden and his Administration conceal any intelligence from Congress and relay different information to the American people than the intelligence suggested related to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan? 
• When did President Biden notify our allies of the plans to withdraw and did our allies express concerns? 
• What is the location of U.S. assets and military equipment that was left to the Afghan government or abandoned during the withdrawal?
• Will U.S. financial or other assistance to Afghanistan continue considering it could be construed as providing material support to a foreign terror organization? 

Read the full letter here.