Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has accused the Biden administration of sending millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, which may have ended up in the hands of the Taliban. Mast, the chairman of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, expressed outrage during a hearing last week, citing reports that tens of millions of dollars of U.S. aid intended for Afghan civilians may have been diverted to the Taliban.
He pointed to a reported $2.8 billion in humanitarian funding directed to Afghanistan following the chaotic 2021 withdrawal, highlighting the potential for misappropriation. Mast also criticized a $500,000 grant he characterized as promoting atheism in Nepal.
In May, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement echoing Mast’s concerns, citing findings by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) that at least $10.9 million in U.S. taxpayer funds were indirectly provided to the Taliban. McCaul condemned this as unacceptable and demanded the Biden administration take immediate action to prevent further funding from reaching the Taliban.
SIGAR, established in 2008, reported that the nearly $11 million paid by State Department entities and partners was likely just a fraction of the total amount the Taliban ultimately received through various means, including taxes, fees, and utilities.
Mast characterized the situation in Afghanistan, along with other cited examples, as the epitome of “America Last.” He expressed concerns about the U.S.’s ability to compete for influence globally with countries like China, Russia, and Iran, while potentially enabling hostile actors through poorly managed aid programs.
The State Department has pushed back on Mast’s claims about promoting atheism in Nepal, with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma stating that the grant’s purpose was misrepresented. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and State Department for further comment on these allegations.
