Republican lawmakers are demanding the Biden administration hand over documents and communications regarding the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.
According to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, the administration has “obstructed” congressional oversight, as well as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
The call for information comes after what Republicans are calling a “national security and humanitarian catastrophe.” The Biden Administration was “tragically unprepared” for the Afghanistan withdrawal, resulting in the loss of U.S. servicemen and women, Americans being abandoned, and progress for Afghan women being derailed. The Taliban has now gained access to military equipment, and the entire area is under hostile Taliban control.
The Republicans are calling for the 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 to hand over all documents and communications regarding the withdrawal.
In a letter to DOD Secretary Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Milley, the Republicans said they were at the center of planning the withdrawal and evacuation, and advised President Biden on decisions that amounted to tactical and strategic failures.
The Afghan War Commission, established by the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, does not have to produce a report for three years after its first meeting. The Commission has not met once, and Republicans are concerned that its investigation will be extended, potentially releasing findings after the Biden Administration has left office.
Comer noted that the Biden administration failed to respond to congressional oversight three times spanning two years, despite more than $2 trillion being spent on the war and reconstruction efforts.
Republicans are demanding answers, and the American people deserve to know what went wrong with the Afghanistan withdrawal. The ongoing obstruction of this investigation is unacceptable, and it’s time for the Biden administration to be held accountable.
As Republicans continue to push for answers, they are also calling for an end to the Biden administration’s disastrous policies that have led to a humanitarian crisis at the southern border, skyrocketing inflation, and energy dependence on foreign countries.
It’s time for Republicans to stand up for American values and hold the Biden administration accountable for their failures. The American people deserve a government that puts their safety and well-being first, and Republicans are committed to ensuring that happens.
