Reps. Crow, Kim Introduce Bill to Responsibly Sunset the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger who served in Afghanistan, and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA-40) introduced the Sunsetting the Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) Act, bipartisan legislation to responsibly sunset the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) by January 31, 2026. Although SIGAR has conducted robust oversight of U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, this bill is responsive to the situation on the ground and a reduction in U.S. assistance to the country since the withdrawal of American troops.

Following the wind down of the agency, this bill would provide a more cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars and hand oversight responsibilities to the inspector generals at the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 

“I was proud to serve our country in combat in Afghanistan. Now that the war is over, I’ve introduced a bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Kim to save American taxpayer dollars and responsibly wind down SIGAR,” said Rep. Jason Crow.

“After the Taliban takeover, U.S. assistance to Afghanistan has declined drastically. Naturally, transferring SIGAR’s oversight role to permanent inspector general offices will save taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I am proud to join Rep. Crow in a bipartisan effort to reduce the federal bureaucracy and ensure an efficient federal government.” 

“I appreciate SIGAR’s vital work to conduct comprehensive oversight of U.S. assistance to Afghanistan from 2008 until our withdrawal in 2021. Although our commitment to the people of Afghanistan and those who supported our decades-long mission there endures, the shape of our engagement has changed,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. “Winding down SIGAR in a responsible manner is an important recognition of that fact, will help avoid duplication, and conserve taxpayer resources.”

In terminating SIGAR by January 31, 2026, this legislation allows funds associated with the Office to be transferred to the Department of State, foreign operations, and related appropriations, pending consultation between the U.S. Secretary of State and the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations in both chambers of Congress.

SIGAR was created by Congress as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in order to provide independent and objective oversight of Afghanistan reconstruction projects and activities. Throughout its 16-year existence, SIGAR routinely provided an overview of reconstruction activities to Congress on a quarterly basis, along with detailed statements of all obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with these activities. 

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