Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25), who served as a U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot in the Global War on Terror, sent a letter to President Biden demanding operational control in Afghanistan be given to the Department of Defense (DoD) rather than the State Department. Garcia also once again called for the President's commitment to evacuating every American citizen and Afghan ally—even if that means staying beyond the August 31 deadline. Garcia’s letter follows the preventable and tragic death of at least 13 U.S. service members in Kabul, Afghanistan. 
 
“The events that have unfolded over the past 12 hours near the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKAIA) in Kabul, Afghanistan have fundamentally changed the situation there. We cannot continue to rely on diplomacy with the Taliban to resolve this situation. It is clear that this is now a military operation and it is high time it be treated as such,” Garcia wrote.
 
Garcia demanded that the Biden administration shift operational control from the State Department to the Department of Defense as there is an evident need for greater military command in order to assist with evacuations and prevent further devastation. 
 
“Numerous American servicemembers have now lost their lives in heinous and cowardly attacks. Your administration’s reliance on the cooperation and good faith of the Taliban are costing lives and precious time,” Garcia wrote. “Command of all facets of the ongoing evacuation operation must immediately be transitioned to the Department of Defense and military commanders on the ground at HKAIA to prevent further tragedy.”
 
Garcia encouraged President Biden to allow the U.S. military to fully utilize the skills, training, and resources available to them to complete the mission in safely getting all Americans and Afghan allies out. 
 
“The United States Armed forces are the most powerful fighting forces on the face of the planet. They must be allowed to properly defend themselves and the Americans and Afghan allies who are seeking to leave the country. No options should be taken off the table to protect American lives,” Garcia wrote. 
 
Garcia concluded the letter by calling on President Biden to stand up to terrorist organizations, regardless of their demands for the August 31st deadline. 
 
“It is imperative that you make it clear to all hostile forces in Afghanistan that we will evacuate every American citizen and our Afghan allies still remaining in Afghanistan, regardless of the August 31st deadline. We can no longer allow the Taliban, ISIS-K, or anyone else to dictate terms to the United States,” Garcia wrote. “As Commander-in-Chief it is your responsibility to ensure the protection of every American life in Afghanistan. I urge you to do what is clearly necessary to accomplish that mission and shift command of the operation to military personnel.”
  
Click here to read the letter. 
 
Garcia recently led a letter with the bipartisan For Country Caucus calling on President Biden to disregard the 8/31 deadline to get all Americans and Afghan allies out and for the accounting of all U.S. military equipment in the hands of the Taliban. 

Garcia flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the skies above Baghdad, Fallujah, and Tikrit.