An unexpected review of a controversial military decision is underway, and the families of fallen American troops are at the heart of the debate involving Secretary of State Pete Hegseth.
According to Breitbart, Hegseth has directed the Pentagon to conduct a “comprehensive review” of President Joe Biden’s hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, focusing sharply on the failures surrounding the deadly suicide bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. The August 2021 attack killed 13 American service members and as many as 170 Afghan civilians.
Hegseth’s order comes after an initial review by the Department of Defense concluded there were significant mistakes in the Biden administration’s approach, particularly its decision to extend the U.S. military presence beyond a deadline negotiated by then-President Donald Trump. The chaotic evacuation, culminating in a mass-casualty attack at Abbey Gate, continues to spark fierce debate in Washington and among military families.
The decision by President Biden in April 2021 to disregard the Trump administration’s agreement with the Taliban—designed to end America’s two-decade military involvement in Afghanistan—set off a cascade of violence and instability. Biden had hoped to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a continued troop presence, but Taliban advances rapidly crippled Afghan defense forces and led to the flight of President Ashraf Ghani.
Within four months, the Taliban launched more than 22,000 attacks, prompting Afghan soldiers to flee and resulting in the unchecked Taliban takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021. Amid the chaos, thousands of Afghans and foreign nationals crowded into Hamid Karzai International Airport, desperate to escape the Taliban’s return to power.
The tragedy reached its peak on August 26, when a suicide bomber—identified as an Islamic State terrorist—detonated an explosive device near the airport’s Abbey Gate. The attack killed 170 Afghans and 13 American service members, marking the deadliest day for U.S. troops in Afghanistan in a decade. The names and hometowns of those killed have since become a rallying cry for accountability and answers.
Hegseth, in a letter released Tuesday, emphasized the need for full transparency regarding the military withdrawal, promising a thorough examination of the events leading up to and following the Abbey Gate bombing. He pledged to provide “justice for those killed” and a complete accounting to the American public.
Hegseth wrote, “Biden’s administration led a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. military and embassy officials from Afghanistan that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. Service members and 170 civilians in a suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport’s Abbey Gate. President Trump and I have formally pledged full transparency for what transpired during our military withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
Department of Defense officials have already spent three months reviewing the events, but Hegseth believes a more expansive investigation is necessary. Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and a decorated Afghanistan veteran, has been appointed to lead a new panel. Hegseth has framed the probe as a matter of restoring trust and accountability within the upper ranks of military and civilian leadership.
Critics of the Biden administration have seized on the withdrawal as an example of mismanagement and avoidable tragedy. In statements and public appearances, both Hegseth and President Trump have highlighted the suffering of the families whose loved ones died at Abbey Gate.
Relatives of the fallen have spoken out, accusing Biden of failing to honor their sacrifices. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, contrasted Trump’s personal outreach with what she described as indifference from the Biden White House. Shamblin said:
While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours at Bedminster with us. He allowed us to grieve. He allowed us to remember our heroes. Donald Trump knew all of our children’s names, he knew their stories, and he spoke to us in a way that made us feel understood — like he knew our kids.
The Biden administration, for its part, has pointed to the unprecedented challenges of the evacuation, including rapidly shifting threats and limited time. Still, the U.S. Embassy had warned Americans to stay away from the airport in the days before the attack, raising questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
The Trump administration has touted recent progress in bringing those responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing to justice. In March, American authorities captured and extradited a terrorist known as “Jafar,” identified as the mastermind behind the attack. According to Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s Senior Director for Counterterrorism, Jafar has confessed to orchestrating the bombing and dozens of other attacks.
Hegseth remains adamant that the new investigation will not only examine the tactical failures but also seek out those responsible for security lapses and intelligence breakdowns. He has stressed that the probe will cover all aspects of the withdrawal, from policy decisions at the highest level to actions on the ground in Kabul.
Sean Parnell’s personal connection to Afghanistan—having served 485 days in combat and been wounded along with the majority of his platoon—has been cited as evidence that the review will be both thorough and empathetic to the experiences of troops and their families. Hegseth has promised the panel will deliver “ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation.”
