5 Years After the Botched Withdrawal, Republicans Fight to Rebuild America's Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today marks five years since the Biden-Harris administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan allowed the Taliban to capture the capital city, Kabul, leaving billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. military equipment behind, and costing 13 American service members their lives.

The catastrophic failure in Afghanistan was the result of the previous administration’s failure to adequately prepare for the withdrawal and its disregard for the consequences of their decisions. President Trump and Republicans are fighting to restore America’s military strength, revitalize America’s defense industrial base, and ensure a failure of this magnitude never happens again.

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered a $150 billion investment into America’s national security, helping rebuild American deterrence and equip servicemembers with the resources to meet the threats of tomorrow. House Republicans also passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, taking a major step toward ensuring the United States remains the world’s preeminent fighting force.

Here’s what Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) had to say about the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan:

"As an F-22 pilot who deployed to the Middle East, I saw firsthand what disciplined American leadership can accomplish. Five years ago, the Biden-Harris administration abandoned that discipline in Afghanistan, and the result was one of the greatest foreign policy failures in a generation, one that handed the Taliban our equipment and cost thirteen American heroes their lives. We owe it to every man and woman who wears the uniform to make sure that failure is never repeated," said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).

“As a GWOT veteran who served as a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operator in Afghanistan, I will never forget the sacrifice of the Americans who served there or the 13 service members we lost at Abbey Gate. The fall of Kabul was a painful reminder that American strength and preparedness matter. We owe it to those who served to maintain a military that can deter our enemies and protect the American people. A failure of that scale can never happen again,” said Rep. Troy Downing (MT-02).

“As an active member of the Air National Guard, I served alongside many of our servicemembers in Afghanistan, and I know there are no finer individuals among us. These brave men and women were put in harm’s way by a reckless and hasty exit from Kabul, and unfortunately, it represented the dangers of weak leadership. President Trump correctly ordered the withdrawal from Afghanistan, but the way it was carried out by former President Biden was careless, poorly planned, and endangered countless Americans. My heart goes out to those who were killed, wounded, or stranded. I pray our nation learns from this mistake and that our leadership remains strong in times of crisis—American lives depend on it,” said Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC-03).

“The debacle we witnessed 5 years ago with the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to the fall of Kabul into the hands of the Taliban is exactly why I introduced the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026. I offered a near-identical amendment in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which received a unanimous voice vote of my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee. The American people should never again be forced to watch billions of dollars in military equipment fall into the hands of our enemies. We’re still haunted by the shameful images of the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan — weapons scattered across the battlefield, abandoned to terrorists and our adversaries. Those failures exposed dangerous gaps in leadership, accountability, and planning. Our servicemembers and taxpayers deserve far better — and we must ensure it never happens again,” said Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08).

“Five years after the fall of Kabul, we remember the Americans who served with courage and distinction in Afghanistan, especially the 13 service members killed at Abbey Gate. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was a failure of leadership that cost American lives, abandoned our allies and damaged our credibility around the world. As a veteran, I believe we owe those we send into harm’s way a clear mission, sound strategy and leaders who are accountable for the decisions they make. Five years later, we must remember the lessons of Kabul, maintain a strong and capable military and ensure a failure of this magnitude is never repeated,” said Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18).

“Five years ago, Kabul fell to the Taliban because the Biden Administration ignored warnings, failed to plan, and put political optics ahead of the safety of American servicemembers. Thirteen American servicemembers were killed, and the withdrawal left Afghan allies behind and badly damaged America’s credibility. As a former Army Ranger, I consider Biden’s botched withdrawal a disgrace to every American who served and sacrificed in Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror,” said Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08).

“I wore the uniform in Afghanistan. I had friends there. I watched Americans risk their lives, lose their lives, and leave pieces of themselves behind in that country. Five years ago, we watched the Taliban take it all back in a matter of just a couple days. Our troops fought with everything they had and did everything this country asked of them. They deserved proficiency, resolve, and leadership worthy of their sacrifice. Instead, they watched decades of sacrifice collapse before their eyes because of the incompetence of the Biden Administration. America should never allow something like that to happen again,” said Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-07).