While some senior Pentagon officials still insist that the Afghan government and military are capable of defending the country from the Taliban once the United States-led coalition withdraws this summer, Congress feels differently. 

A bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers is urging the Biden White House to begin transporting Afghan allies “immediately” to a safe zone such as Guam ahead of the full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11.

Elizabeth Neumann, a former Homeland Security Department official in the Trump administration, said that “we are aware and appreciate that the National Security Council, the Department of Defense and the State Department are very rapidly planning to figure out how to best help these allies, but with only six to eight weeks left before potential full withdrawal, it’s really time for action.”

Afghan ally and partner
Afghan interpreter Mohamad Javad is now a USAF airman after getting a visa to move to the U.S. (U.S. Air Force)

In a letter written on June 4, lawmakers led by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) wrote that they are “increasingly concerned” that the administration has not yet mobilized the Pentagon to help protect Afghan allies. The State Department’s current plan to approve special immigrant visas allowing thousands of Afghans to enter the United States is moving too slowly to avert the coming crisis, the letter said.