Jones Calls for more Transparency on Use of Taxpayer Money in Afghanistan | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    WASHINGTON, DC     Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) is calling for more transparency on the use of American taxpayer money in Afghanistan. His calls come after Defense Department (DOD) personnel recently decided to classify important information related to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), which are funded by American taxpayers. In most cases, the information in question has been unclassified, and available to the public, for years. Classifying the information limits the ability of American taxpayers to see how their hard-earned money is being spent. Congressman Jones is asking Secretary of Defense James Mattis to review the classification decisions.

    In a letter sent on November 29, Congressman Jones asked for the declassification of a Special Inspector General on Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) report on the reportedly widespread practice of bacha bazi, or pedophilia, among high-ranking Afghan military and police leaders.

    "The American people deserve to know the extent of sexual abuse of children committed by Afghanistan leaders, who are ultimately funded by the American taxpayers," Congressman Jones wrote in his letter. "After 16 years and over $1 trillion dollars spent in Afghanistan, how can we not allow the taxpayers to know the truth about how their money is being spent?"

    In his December 18 letter, Congressman Jones asked for the declassification of 33 measures detailing the performance (i.e. end strength, force composition, attrition, casualties, etc.) of the ANDSF.

    "America has already spent $70 billion to prop up the Afghan defense and security forces. Billions more are dedicated to that effort every year," Jones reiterated in his second letter. "Without information on progress and performance, there is no way for taxpayers to judge what kind of return they're getting on their investment. That is unacceptable."

    "I respectfully urge you to promptly reconsider the department's treatment of this information," Jones continued. "DOD should not expect taxpayers, or their representatives, to continue spending billions to stand up the Afghan military and police with no oversight or accountability in return."

    For additional information, please contact Allison Tucker in Congressman Jones' office at (202) 225-3415 or allison.tucker@mail.house.gov.