WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Sunday released a critical report detailing their investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, attributing the chaotic end of America’s longest war to President Joe Biden’s administration while downplaying the involvement of former President Donald Trump, who had initiated the withdrawal agreement with the Taliban.
The review highlights significant military and civilian failures in the final months leading to the withdrawal, following Trump’s February 2020 deal that enabled the Taliban to swiftly regain control of Afghanistan prior to the withdrawal completion on August 30, 2021. The abrupt exit resulted in the abandonment of numerous American citizens, Afghan allies, women activists, and others in jeopardy under Taliban rule.
Despite being widely discussed in previous assessments, the House Republicans’ report adds little new information, as independent evaluations over the years have indicated a systemic failure involving all four recent presidential administrations, concluding that both Biden and Trump bear significant responsibility.
Rep. Michael McCaul, leading the investigation as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the findings show the Biden administration had ample opportunity to plan for the Afghan government’s imminent collapse, allowing for the safe evacuation of U.S. personnel and their allies.
“At every turn, the administration prioritized optics over security,” he asserted.
McCaul emphasized that the report’s timing, just before the upcoming presidential election, was not politically motivated, claiming that Republicans did not overlook Trump’s mistakes during the withdrawal process.
A spokesperson for the White House dismissed the Republican report as filled with “cherry-picked facts and inaccurate information,” arguing that Trump’s agreement with the Taliban placed Biden in a difficult situation, requiring either a military escalation against a bolstered Taliban or a complete withdrawal.
House Democrats contended that the Republican report insufficiently represented Trump’s involvement in the events leading to the withdrawal.
The GOP’s exhaustive investigation focused on the lead-up to the troop removal, alleging that Biden and his team disregarded warnings and undermined senior officials as the Taliban captured crucial cities much faster than anticipated.
Retired Col. Seth Krummrich described the Taliban’s rapid advance as a “Red Blob,” particularly during his tenure at the special operations command, where they monitored the insurgent group’s territorial gains.
Carol Perez, then-acting undersecretary of management at the State Department, noted a lack of preparation within the department before the abandonment of the embassy as the Taliban entered Kabul.
The withdrawal marked the conclusion of nearly two decades of U.S. and allied presence aimed at dismantling al-Qaida following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Reports indicate that since the withdrawal, the Taliban has been rebuilding its presence, including establishing multiple al-Qaida training camps.
The committee referenced a 2023 report by a U.S. government watchdog emphasizing the implications of Trump’s agreement with the Taliban, highlighting both Trump and Biden’s resolve to withdraw despite Taliban noncompliance with key elements of the deal.
The House Republicans’ report, exceeding 350 pages, results from extensive testimonies, seven public hearings, roundtables, and the review of over 20,000 pages of State Department documents.
As Trump prepares for a renewed presidential campaign, the withdrawal has emerged as a focal point against Vice President Kamala Harris, who is his primary opponent in the race.
The report references Harris’ overall responsibility as an adviser to Biden but does not specify any concrete actions attributed to her that contributed to the withdrawal’s shortcomings.
Key findings of the report illuminate allegations that the Biden administration heavily restricted input from military and civilian leaders in Afghanistan as they prepared for the exit. The report accuses National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan of making crucial decisions without adequately consulting key stakeholders.
Yang refuted this claim, asserting that the administration actively sought feedback from officials on the ground and across the government.
The report specifies that Biden proceeded with the withdrawal despite the Taliban’s failure to maintain compliance with the agreement, including not engaging in talks with the Afghan government.
Former State Department spokesperson Ned Price informed the committee that adherence to the agreement had little bearing on Biden’s withdrawal strategy.
Prior assessments have noted Trump’s actions leading to the troop reduction, despite ongoing Taliban violence and their noncompliance with initial agreements.
The report further scrutinizes the Biden administration’s management of U.S. embassy staff safety during the withdrawal, claiming a “dogmatic insistence” on maintaining embassy operations even as security risks escalated.
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie indicated that the decision to keep the embassy operational was a critical error that led to the turmoil experienced during the evacuation.
Moreover, the report alleges that State Department officials attempted to minimize or alter assessments regarding threats to U.S. personnel as the withdrawal deadline approached.
“We were still in planning when Kabul fell,” Perez testified, reflecting the chaos of the situation at the time.
