Collins, Colleagues Urge Defense Secretary to Account for U.S. Military Equipment Abandoned in Afghanistan

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Intelligence Committee, joined a group of 25 Senators in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to demand a full account of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan, which has already or risks falling into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies.

“We write with grave concern regarding the status of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan as a result of our poorly executed withdrawal from the country,” the Senators wrote. “As we watched the images coming out of Afghanistan as the Taliban retook the country, we were horrified to see U.S. equipment – including UH-60 Black Hawks – in the hands of the Taliban.”

“It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies,” the Senators continued. “Securing U.S. assets should have been among the top priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense prior to announcing the withdrawal from Afghanistan.” 

In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), Richard Burr (R-NC), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Michael Rounds (R-SD), John Boozman (R-AR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Roger Marshall (R-KS).

Click HERE to read the full letter.

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Earlier this week, Senator Collins issued a statement on the situation in Afghanistan.  In April, Senator Collins participated in a hearing where she questioned Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines about the consequences of the Administration withdrawing all American troops from Afghanistan by September 11th.  

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