Top Oversight Republicans Demand Information on Biden’s Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal
Press the White House, DOD, DHS, State, USAID, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for all documents and communications related to the Afghanistan catastrophe
WASHINGTON – House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Subcommittee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas), and Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) today 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 requesting all documents, communications, and information related to the Biden Administration’s disastrous military and diplomatic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Since August 2021, Oversight Committee Republicans have sought information into the Afghanistan catastrophe. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration continues to obstruct congressional oversight as well as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
“The Biden Administration was tragically unprepared for the Afghanistan withdrawal and their decisions in the region directly resulted in a national security and humanitarian catastrophe. U.S. servicemen and women lost their lives, Americans were abandoned, taxpayer dollars are unaccounted for, the Taliban gained access to military equipment, progress for Afghan women was derailed, and the entire area is now under hostile Taliban control. The American people deserve answers and the Biden Administration’s ongoing obstruction of this investigation is unacceptable,” said Chairman Comer. “With the power of the gavel, Oversight Republicans are determined to provide answers, transparency, and accountability. Every relevant department and agency should be prepared to cooperate and provide all requested information. The American people expect nothing less.”
Chairman Comer and Oversight Committee Republicans have aggressively pursued information from the Biden Administration, seeking answers on the botched Afghanistan withdrawal over ten times. The Biden Administration has failed to produce any requested information. Despite requesting hearings in August 2021, September 2021, and January 2022, Committee Democrats never held a public hearing on the Afghanistan withdrawal. The Biden Administration continues to avoid transparency, and therefore, accountability for its deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Republican lawmakers today 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.