U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress on Thursday that America’s troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is “slightly” ahead of schedule, but he provided no details.
President Joe Biden has ordered a full U.S. troop withdrawal by September 11. Austin did not say when it may be complete.
"As you know, President directed us to withdraw our forces from Afghanistan by early September. I can report to you today that the retrograde is proceeding slightly ahead of pace," Lloyd wrote on his Twitter page.
Austin said at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing that the Defense Department’s proposed $715 billion budget will include money to help the military develop the capabilities to prevent attacks against the United States by terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
