U.S. Drones Worth $174 Million Were “Lost” in Afghanistan

As the U.S. military continues to clear out of Afghanistan and residents flee since the Taliban's takeover, it’s worth looking back at how American funds to aid operations in Afghanistan were wasted over almost 20 years.

Desperate to escape the Taliban and get on recent evacuation flights, seven people died at Kabul airport, including some who grabbed onto the outside of a U.S. Air Force C-17A cargo jet carrying 800 Afghans fleeing in terror.

The sad scene is at once unexpected and shocking. And it shows the desperation as American troops withdraw after two decades.

During that time, taxpayer money has been used in nation-building missions since removing the Taliban from power, some of which turned out to be a complete waste of money.

In his 2020 “Festivus Report,” a reference to the made-up holiday from “Seinfeld,” Sen. Rand Paul noted that the Department of Defense spent $174 million on drones that were lost in Afghanistan.

The drones were to be part of the attempt to help the Afghan National Army defend itself. But the ANA didn’t immediately use the drones and the DoD, along with its contractor, lost track of the drones.

The drone loss is just one of many examples over the 20 years of bungling in Afghanistan that cost American lives and money.

Learn more:
OpenTheBooks Oversight Report, U.S. Foreign Aid
Forbes, 10 U.S. Investments In Afghanistan That Didn’t Pan Out

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.