WASHINGTON — Three Republican members of Congress have urged President Donald Trump to reconsider plans to permanently shut down programs assisting Afghan wartime allies, warning that such a move would put thousands of lives at risk and send a dangerous message about U.S. commitment to its partners.
In a letter dated March 4, Representatives Mike Lawler, Michael McCaul, and Richard Hudson expressed concern over reports that the Trump administration intends to dismantle the State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) and end the Enduring Welcome program, which facilitates the relocation of Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces.
“Such a decision would abandon over 200,000 wartime allies and have lasting consequences for America’s global credibility, military operations, and veterans,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter warns that the Taliban view Afghans who worked with the U.S. as enemies and have hunted, detained, and executed many of them. The lawmakers cited over 3,000 documented killings and disappearances of former Afghan military personnel, interpreters, and U.S. government partners since the Taliban returned to power.
“The Taliban, ISIS-K, and other extremist groups are already using this decision in propaganda, framing it as proof that America abandons its friends,” they wrote.
The lawmakers also pointed to the humanitarian crisis facing Afghans stranded in Pakistan, where many awaiting U.S. relocation have been deported back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Trump’s rollback of Afghan resettlement programs
Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has frozen foreign aid and halted resettlement programs for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and affiliated organizations, citing security concerns. The lawmakers argue that these efforts have nothing to do with border security and have instead shut down safe, legal immigration pathways for those vetted and approved under bipartisan legislation.
“The infrastructure of Enduring Welcome is already in place. Dismantling this and shutting down the program will be an expensive and irreversible decision that will likely cost more than to keep it running,” the letter states.
The lawmakers urged the Trump administration to maintain the CARE office and the Enduring Welcome program before it is too late.
“You can ensure that the door is closed on this chapter of American history with one last successful act of redemption and honor,” they wrote.
The letter underscores broader concerns among U.S. lawmakers and veterans’ groups about the fate of Afghan allies who risked their lives to support American forces, arguing that failing to protect them could damage U.S. credibility and embolden extremist groups.
