On May 20, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo ordering a “comprehensive review” of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which he described as “one of America’s darkest and deadliest international moments.”
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The memo highlighted the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians in the bombing at Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s airport. The Secretary of Defense then emphasized the Department of Defense’s obligation to provide transparency and accountability to the American people and service members, citing the significant casualties and equipment losses.
The review, following a prior three-month Pentagon investigation, will be led by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who will head a Special Review Panel to evaluate previous investigations, analyze decision-making, and ensure accountability. Former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who became well known for being openly critical of the withdrawal while he was still active duty, will also participate. The memo aims to restore trust and faith in the military by addressing the failures of the chaotic withdrawal.
It was unclear how Hegseth’s review would differ from the many previous reviews that were carried out – including by the U.S. military, State Department and even President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Hegseth could be accused of politicizing the matter. The Biden administration, which oversaw the 2021 pullout, mostly blamed the resulting chaos on a lack of planning and reductions in troops by the first Trump administration following a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. forces. On the campaign trail, Trump frequently criticized Biden and his administration for the withdrawal.
In a memo, Hegseth said that after three months of reviewing the withdrawal, a comprehensive review was needed to ensure accountability for this event.
“This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation,” Hegseth wrote.
In a statement accompanying the memo, he said Pentagon spokesperson and senior adviser Sean Parnell would lead the review. Other individuals who served in Afghanistan, such as Stuart Scheller, who was publicly critical of the withdrawal while he was in the Marine Corps, would be a part of the review panel.
Senior
U.S. military officials, including then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and then-top U.S. general Mark Milley, have already appeared before lawmakers.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has also carried out an investigation into the Islamic State attack that killed the 13 U.S. troops and dozens of Afghans during the last few days of the withdrawal.
