The House of Representatives took a significant step Wednesday, passing a resolution rebuking Biden administration officials for their handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Notably, 10 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the measure, a sign of bipartisan concern over the chaotic and deadly operation.
The resolution, introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, specifically names 15 current or former Biden administration members, including President Biden himself, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It accuses them of prioritizing optics over security, a decision that McCaul argues directly led to the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers in a terror attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul during the withdrawal.
McCaul, who conducted a yearslong investigation into the chaotic military operation, delivered a powerful speech on the House floor, reading the names of the fallen servicemembers and emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “Three years after the deadly and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden-Harris administration has yet to hold anyone accountable for one of the most devastating foreign policy blunders in American history,” McCaul stated.
The resolution passed with a vote of 219 to 194, with Democrats like Jared Golden of Maine, Mary Peltola of Alaska, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Jeff Jackson of North Carolina joining Republicans in condemning the administration’s actions.
Leading the opposition to the resolution was Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meeks argued that the resolution was nothing more than “political theater” designed to score points rather than address real issues. “It’s a distortion of the facts and a disservice to the American people, a disservice to our servicemembers, a disservice to our diplomats – all of who put their lives on the line during our 20-year war efforts,” Meeks said. He emphasized that their sacrifices should not be used as a political tool and called for real solutions to support Afghan allies and ensure accountability based on truth, not partisan narratives.
McCaul, while expressing respect for Meeks and acknowledging their bipartisan collaboration on other issues, strongly disagreed with his stance on this resolution. “Who could ever forget the harrowing images of Afghans falling off the planes, and babies being flung over barbed wire in a desperate attempt by mothers to save their children and escape Afghanistan under Taliban rule?” he asked, highlighting the tragedy of the situation.
This vote comes as McCaul is also poised to lead the House in holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress over accusations of stonewalling his probe into the withdrawal. The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced that resolution on Tuesday, and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., suggested to Fox News Digital that he will bring it up for a House-wide vote when lawmakers return from their six-week recess starting Wednesday.
The State Department, in a statement, criticized the move as a “naked political exercise masquerading as oversight,” aimed at furthering the majority’s partisan interests. This ongoing conflict underscores the deep political divisions surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the lingering questions surrounding the administration’s handling of the complex and tragic event.
