US President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce funds for Afghanistan resettlement programs leaves thousands of allies vulnerable to Taliban threats, raising concerns among lawmakers, civil groups, and immigration advocates.
Washington [US], August 29: Thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives working alongside American forces during the two-decade-long war against the Taliban are now staring at an uncertain future. US President Donald Trump has reduced funding for programs designed to support their relocation and resettlement in the United States, a move that has triggered sharp criticism in Washington.
According to Khaama Press, the cuts directly impact Afghans awaiting protection under programs like Operation Enduring Freedom and Temporary Protected Status, both of which are set to expire in September. These initiatives were crucial safety nets, shielding Afghans who stood against Taliban rule from brutal retaliation.
The decision has been met with growing alarm from US lawmakers. Congressman Scott Peters called the move a “dangerous signal” that undermines America’s credibility. “It sends the wrong message to our future partners. Those who had the courage to stand against the Taliban are precisely the people the US should be protecting,” Peters said.
Civil society organizations have echoed these concerns. Shawn VanDiver, who leads the AfghanEvac initiative in San Diego, warned that thousands of Afghans would be left in grave danger without continued support. “If the funding ends, they will be exposed to Taliban revenge with no safety net,” he cautioned.
Official statistics paint a grim picture: nearly 60,000 Afghans inside Afghanistan are still awaiting asylum case reviews, while over 170,000 others remain in the queue for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). Immigration lawyers fear that Afghan women and girls, in particular, will pay the highest price if abandoned—losing access to education, jobs, and even basic freedoms under Taliban rule. “The idea of them being sent back is deeply frightening,” one lawyer said.
Critics also argue that cutting these programs risks eroding US moral authority worldwide, sending a troubling message that those who stood with American forces can be forgotten when convenient.
The debate comes just as President Trump signed a proclamation earlier this week, marking the fourth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, which killed US troops and Afghan civilians. In his address, Trump recalled the tragedy and blamed the previous administration’s withdrawal plan as “a reflection of incompetence.”
For now, Afghan allies remain caught in limbo—uncertain of whether the nation they once served will stand by them in their hour of greatest need.