Congressman McKeon Introduces Legislation to Prohibit the Use of Afghan Nationals as Security Forces on U.S. Military Bases

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon introduced H.R. 4117, legislation that will prohibit the use of private security contractors and members of the Afghan Public Protection Force to provide security for members of the Armed Forces, military installations and facilities in Afghanistan.

Currently, members of the Armed Forces are garrisoned and housed in facilities and installations in Afghanistan that are guarded by private security contractors and not by United States or coalition forces. Many of these private security contractors hire and employ Afghan nationals as members of these security forces. According to the Department of Defense, there have been numerous attacks on coalition forces by the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, or Afghan nationals hired by private security contractors to guard United States bases and facilities in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense data show that the trend of these insider attacks is increasing.

“Last March, we lost Corporal Donald Mickler and Specialist Rudy Acosta, a constituent of mine, in a cold blooded attack on their base in Afghanistan by an Afghan security officer,” said Congressman McKeon. “This type of senseless attack in incomprehensible. I felt we needed to make sure that we were doing all that we could to make sure our troops are protected while they are bravely serving.”

Congressman McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, held hearings on the use of Afghan Security Forces in Afghanistan and launched an investigation into the hiring and vetting processes employed by private contractors.

“The responsibility of the House Armed Services Committee is to provide oversight of the military policies and strategies employed by the President and the Pentagon,” said Congressman McKeon.  “My investigation has uncovered serious flaws in the processes of providing security using Afghan National Security Forces and private security contractors, and these flaws must be addressed.  Based upon what the Committee has discovered, I have authored this legislation that I believe will address these serious issues.”

Under this legislation, the President must ensure that there are as many appropriately trained members of the Armed Forces of the United States as necessary to execute our mission, as well as provide for the security of our Armed Forces.  If the President refuses, he has an obligation to certify to Congress that the use of private security contractors or the Afghan Public Protection Force can provide a level of security and force protection for members of the Armed Forces deployed to Afghanistan that is a least equal to the security and force protection of the United States military.

“The loss of any soldier is tragic, but in the instances where American soldiers are killed by those employed to protect them, the tragedy is compounded by the senseless manner in which these heroes lost their lives.  We owe our soldiers and their families the promise that we are doing all that we can to ensure their safety while bravely serving our country,” McKeon said.