Bacon Says He's Angry About Afghanistan Withdrawal, Supports Hard Infrastructure Bill

Sept. 29, 2021, 4:30 p.m. ·

Congressman Don Bacon
Congressman Don Bacon. (Photo Courtesy of Don Bacon)

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Congressman Don Bacon said Wednesday he’s never been angrier with a President as an adult as he is with the way the Afghanistan withdrawal was handled by the Biden Administration. The Republican from the Omaha area has been part of several days of hearings reviewing what went wrong.

Bacon is a member the House Armed Service Committee and had a long career in the Air Force before his political career. He’s been in on a high-profile hearing this week, including testimony from the U.S.’s top military officer, General Mark Milley, who testified he did recommend leaving some troops in Afghanistan. Bacon said it’s clear the nation was lied to.

“The President was not being honest with the American people,” Biden said. “The top two military guys in this operation told the President that we should keep troops in Afghanistan and not do this withdrawal. He overrules them and then tells the Americans that no military leader recommended differently and that enrages me when the President lies to the American people.”

Bacon is also in the middle of Congress’ efforts to pass a continuing resolution for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on Friday and avoid hitting the debt ceiling limit, which could happen in a few weeks and cause a massive default. Congress is also considering a $1 billion-plus hard infrastructure bill that’s tied to a larger spending proposal.

“I want to support a hard infrastructure bill but I oppose the Bernie Sanders, $3.5 trillion social welfare bill that he’s got out there, but right now what I’m hearing is the Republican leadership [doesn’t] want to vote for the hard infrastructure because they’re afraid of giving a victory to Biden, and I don’t think that’s right.”

Bacon said he’s confident the spending bills and debt limit issues will be addressed in the coming days but isn’t sure about the infrastructure bills.