Official Congressional records and announcements

Blinken Faces House Committee on Chaotic August 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal

Dec 11, 2024, 03:09 PM

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to testify before the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday regarding the chaotic August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hearing, titled 'An Assessment of the State Department’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan by America’s Top Diplomat,' marks the end of months of tension between the State Department and the committee. Blinken's appearance comes after a prolonged effort by the committee to secure his testimony. The session is expected to be contentious, with Republican lawmakers likely to scrutinize the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal. The hearing will also feature the presence of protestors and family members of the 13 service members killed outside the Kabul airport during the evacuation.