A new Pentagon investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is set to declassify previously restricted materials and reexamine crucial decisions made during the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal. This investigation aims to include interview transcripts, internal documents, and earlier findings that officials believe were unnecessarily classified, according to Pentagon adviser Stu Scherer.
“We plan to declassify all the documents obtained during this investigation, including interviews and earlier overclassified investigations relevant to the Biden administration,” Scherer explained. “This will allow everyone to assess it for themselves.”
In contrast to earlier investigations that listed failures without pinpointing individual accountability, this latest effort will review a wider range of records and involve thorough interviews with both senior military leaders and enlisted personnel. Officials suggest that this could lead to revisiting unanswered questions regarding the decision-making process during the 2021 withdrawal.
“There will be accountability,” Scherer affirmed.
Previously, a Gold Star father expressed skepticism about earlier Afghanistan reviews, suggesting they seemed like a cover-up, especially now as millions of documents are being scrutinized anew.
Scherer shared insights on the report, mentioning they spoke with numerous key commanders and thousands of junior military personnel. Many felt their experiences were not adequately recognized.
Former President Trump has criticized the Biden administration for the Abbey Gate incident, in which 13 U.S. service members lost their lives. He has branded the troop withdrawal a “Biden disaster,” calling it a low point for the nation. In May 2025, the administration initiated a separate review of the Pentagon aimed at accountability.
Scherer’s involvement marks a notable change for someone who was previously disciplined for publicly criticizing the military’s handling of the withdrawal. Back in August 2021, he generated attention by posting a video while in uniform, advocating for accountability from senior officials, a move that led to his relief from command and a court-martial.
“We felt that there was no one else speaking out about the reality of the situation,” he noted. “This wasn’t done without thought.”
Scherer added, “I truly felt guided during that period. I came through it, and now I’m here making those changes that I pointed out from the beginning.”
Earlier investigations by Congress and other agencies revealed numerous shortcomings related to the Afghanistan withdrawal, including failures in planning and execution, gaps in evacuation operations, and lapses in senior decision-making.
A report from the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee noted that, despite growing concerns about Kabul’s imminent fall, the State Department did not create a timely evacuation plan, resulting in delays once the Taliban entered the city.
It was also noted that U.S. officials were aware of credible threats of suicide bombings leading up to the Abbey Gate bombing, yet operations continued there.
These issues are being reassessed as part of the current Department of Defense review, including how specific actions by Marines on the ground were acknowledged.
Scherer’s team is paying special attention to the troops stationed at Abbey Gate, where several Marines had their awards downgraded instead of acknowledged. “These awards weren’t simply invented; they’ve been formally recognized in the records,” he stated.
Following the bombing, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and over 150 Afghans, there has been ongoing debate about the response to the withdrawal. The Biden administration defends its actions, claiming they concluded the longest war in U.S. history and prevented further military casualties, while accusing critics of political motivations.
A spokesperson for former President Biden did not respond to requests for comment.
