The Biden administration received criticism from members of Congres for not allowing Americans to enter Kabul airport as the evacuation mission nears the August 31 deadline.
On Saturday evening, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) tweeted the State Department was not helping American citizens trying to evacuate.
“I am furious!! My team has been on the phone all day trying to get AMERICAN CITIZENS out. They have been just outside the airport numerous times, but the State Department WILL NOT help them,” he tweeted.
He added, “They have been beaten by the Taliban at check points and told to leave and come back with large sums of money. Biden is going to get them killed! Enough!! We have [to] put someone who gives a damn in charge RIGHT NOW!”
Also, on Saturday evening, Rep Mike Waltz (R-FL) tweeted that U.S. citizens were not being allowed into Kabul airport.
“Biden has ordered the gates closed. Our fellow Americans will soon be left behind. Unbelievable and unforgivable,” he tweeted.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) tweeted:
“America, you need to know this: Biden is not letting citizens through the airport gates. It has been impossible to get anyone through for the last 24 hours.”
“The administration has been lying about their intent to save Americans. Unforgivable,” he added.
The White House stated on August 17; there was an estimated 11,000 Americans in Afghanistan. As of Saturday, the Pentagon said only 5,400 Americans had been evacuated, leaving 4,600 in question.
The State Department claimed last week there were only about 1,500 Americans left in the country.
The Pentagon claimed American citizens and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants can still get into the Kabul airport, and that would evacuation efforts will continue right up until August 31.
As of 11:00 a.m. ET, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said:
Any U.S. passport holder that wants to get in can get in. And we are still if I’m wrong here, I don’t think I’m wrong, we are still processing and getting on planes SIV applicants as well vulnerable Afghans.
When asked if they are allowed onto the airport, Kirby replied, “Yes, as far as I know, yes.”
Breitbart News contacted the Pentagon Saturday evening to inquire if American citizens were being turned away from the airport but immediately did not receive a response.
Many members of Congress are partnering with private efforts and the State Department to get Americans and Afghan SIV applicants out of Afghanistan.