Accountability and Defense
Secretary of State faced the , defending the administration's handling of the withdrawal and expressing remorse over the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in 2021.
Blinken attributed the withdrawal's chaos to the Trump-negotiated Taliban deal, underscoring a lack of viable alternatives for President Biden, while Republicans criticized the administration's planning and execution.
Political Repercussions and Investigations
The testimony follows a lengthy investigation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which criticized both the Biden and Trump administrations, highlighting a systemic failure across four presidential terms.
Blinken's appearance was contentious, marked by accusations of skirting accountability and a contempt vote over his non-appearance earlier, reflecting deep political divides over the withdrawal.