The Biden administration’s mishandling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan has resulted in tens of thousands of Afghan allies being left behind, despite promises to resettle them safely in the United States. According to a report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the administration is suffering from “bureaucratic dysfunction and understaffing” which is undermining efforts to keep America’s commitment to its allies.
The SIGAR report comes as Afghanistan faces a humanitarian crisis under the brutal Taliban regime that took over after the U.S. withdrawal. Inspector General John Sopko, watchdogs for the Defense and State Departments, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are testifying to Congress in a hearing entitled, “The Biden Administration’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General.”
The report identifies serious risks to the more than $8 billion the U.S. has sent to the Afghan people since withdrawal in August 2021, as well as the need for the government to balance the need for expedited processing of refugees with vetting for national security threats.
Republicans have long sought to hold Biden accountable for the crisis, and the White House has called GOP-led attacks on its handling of Afghanistan “politically motivated.” However, this is not a political issue, but a humanitarian one. Biden assured U.S. allies that they would not be left behind, but the United States has failed to keep that promise. Instead of supporting successful efforts to evacuate Americans and give Afghan allies safe harbor, the Biden administration is actively obstructing meaningful congressional oversight.
It’s time for the Biden administration to take responsibility for its failure and act immediately to rescue and resettle the tens of thousands of Afghan allies left behind. The lives of these brave individuals are at stake, and the U.S. has a moral obligation to keep its promises and keep them safe.
