KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A group of Republican lawmakers is introducing a new bill in a bid to halt U.S. aid to Afghanistan, citing concerns that the Taliban are misappropriating funds.
Rep. Josh Brecheen, the bill’s sponsor, criticized the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, claiming it has resulted in taxpayer dollars inadvertently benefiting the Taliban.
“The Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous withdrawal has plunged the country back under Taliban rule, and now it turns out that our taxpayer dollars are being used to the benefit of the Taliban,” Brecheen stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“This legislation is needed so we can ensure that no more of our tax dollars are being irresponsibly used in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.”
Despite ending its diplomatic and military presence in Afghanistan in 2021, the U.S. remains the largest donor to the country. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the U.S. has provided over $17 billion in assistance to Afghanistan.
But critics argue that much of this support ends up enriching Taliban leaders, who have reportedly gained control over various NGOs in the region.
The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has raised concerns that the Taliban and other extremist groups might have potentially benefited from U.S. taxpayer funds.
According to its July report, the Taliban attempted to obtain U.S. aid funds “through various means, including the creation of humanitarian organizations.” The watchdog emphasizes that there is an increased risk that terrorists and terrorist-affiliated individuals or entities may have illegally benefited from US taxpayer funds intended to help the people of Afghanistan.
The proposed legislation aims to prevent federal agencies from providing direct cash assistance to Afghanistan and restricts taxpayer dollars from being used to support U.N. operations aiding the country. It would also block Federal Reserve Banks from selling U.S. currency to the U.N. for direct cash aid.
Before the Taliban’s resurgence, Afghanistan relied on approximately $8 billion in foreign assistance annually, accounting for 40% of its GDP. As foreign aid ceased following the Taliban takeover, the country descended into an economic crisis, prompting renewed calls for assistance.
In June, the U.S. House passed a separate bill aimed at investigating which countries are providing aid to the Taliban and whether U.S. assistance should continue. However, that legislation did not propose a complete cessation of aid to Afghanistan.
