Rep. Matt Van Epps Blames Biden for Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal on 5th Anniversary
Former Army aviator Rep. Matt Van Epps, R‑Tenn., says the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in a “chaotic” mess five years ago. He adds that the Biden administration has escaped proper accountability.
Van Epps, who served 10 years on active duty and now represents Tennessee in Congress, introduced a resolution to mark the anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans. He says the anniversary forces the nation to confront the human cost of the withdrawal.
“We remember those 13 brave troops who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate,” he told Fox News Digital. “The Biden‑Harris team failed to execute a withdrawal that need not have been this disastrous.”
He added that two close friends were on the ground during the evacuation, serving honorably while being placed in a situation he called “unacceptable.” According to Van Epps, they performed heroically despite the flawed conditions.
Van Epps argues the withdrawal violated the 2020 Doha agreement, which set conditions for a deliberate pull‑out, and accuses the administration of ignoring warning signs as the Taliban seized territory. He says the failure to enforce those conditions led directly to the chaotic exit.
“The Biden team dismissed the Doha framework, prioritized optics over operations, and left allies exposed,” he said. “That negligence must be addressed.”
Democrats have defended the pull‑out, saying it fulfilled President Trump’s negotiated timetable, while the Taliban now bars millions of Afghan girls from school, according to a UN agency. The criticism highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The resolution also condemns the political fallout, noting bipartisan criticism of the administration’s handling of the evacuation and the subsequent rise in Taliban control. Lawmakers say the episode underscores the need for transparent, condition‑based withdrawals in future conflicts.
