On September 22, 2021, 10 Democratic House members voted in favor of a Republican resolution to rebuke President Joe Biden’s administration for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan that ended on August 31, 2021. The Democratic defectors were moderate lawmakers, some from swing districts, who sided with the GOP to back the non-binding resolution on a 276-129 vote. The resolution accused the Biden administration of negligence in failing to foresee the swift collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s takeover. It also demanded that Congress gets a detailed plan to bring Americans and Afghan allies left in Afghanistan back to the United States. However, the resolution does not have much practical effect, but it served as a symbolic gesture of disapproval towards how the Biden administration handled the Afghanistan withdrawal. Democrats who broke ranks to approve the bill have cited concerns about Americans left behind and the risk posed to national security.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, ten Democrats crossed party lines and voted with the Republicans to rebuke President Biden’s administration over the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. It was a contentious move that illustrated the bipartisan criticism the administration has faced for its handling of the withdrawal.

The bipartisan resolution criticizes the Biden administration for its execution of the withdrawal of the U.S. military presence, defined by many lawmakers and analysts as chaotic and disorganized. It also demanded a comprehensive report on the people left in Afghanistan who have ties to the U.S.

Especially notable was the bipartisan consensus on the issue, with ten Democrats joining the Republicans. Among the Democrats who voted in favor were Representatives Carolyn Bourdeaux, Stephanie Murphy, Jared Golden, and Abigail Spanberger.

The administration has been questioned about several key issues regarding the withdrawal, including the lack of an evacuation plan for Afghan allies, the failure to anticipate the rapid victory of the Taliban, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration has continued to defend its conduct, arguing that American citizens who wanted to leave Afghanistan were offered multiple opportunities to depart.

While this resolution is largely symbolic and won’t bring about any material changes, it does signal a united front from both parties in holding the administration accountable for the missteps surrounding the withdrawal. The critique from the Democratic side, in particular, underscores the severity of the political backlash faced by the Biden administration over its handling of the Afghanistan crisis.