U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reaffirmed the Pentagon’s commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the situation left behind as a strategic failure that severely undermined American credibility.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Hegseth confirmed that a report by the special task force assigned to investigate the U.S. exit from Afghanistan will be released soon. “We are pursuing this issue seriously in our office. A statement regarding the progress of the special task force working on this matter will likely be released tomorrow or Wednesday,” he said.
Hegseth indicated that the probe, which continues to examine intelligence failures, operational breakdowns, and decision-making at the highest levels, could extend into next year. “This process takes time, as many issues need to be examined. Some of the information is classified and requires conducting interviews,” he explained.
The abrupt withdrawal in 2021 led to the swift collapse of the Afghan government and the return of Taliban rule, reversing two decades of U.S. efforts in the region. Billions of dollars in American equipment were left behind, and Afghan security forces disintegrated without meaningful resistance—developments that U.S. officials have since called both avoidable and damaging.
Hegseth directly blamed Former President Joe Biden for what he called a self-inflicted blow to American power. “What Joe Biden did to America’s credibility was disastrous,” he said, adding that under Donald Trump’s leadership, U.S. strength and influence on the world stage have been restored.
The Defense Secretary’s comments signal a tough stance from the Pentagon as it prepares to publicly address what many view as one of the most humiliating episodes in recent U.S. military history—one that not only empowered extremist elements in Afghanistan but also sent troubling signals to America’s adversaries across the globe.
