Biden's botched Afghanistan withdrawal leaves Gold Star families devastated; they endorse Hegseth for SecDef.

The families who lost loved ones during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal are supporting Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.

During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee questioned Hegseth, who President-elect Trump appointed to lead the Defense Department, for over four hours.

On Tuesday, the Abbey Gate Coalition, comprising of parents and families of those killed in a terrorist attack following President Biden's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, wrote a letter to senators, urging them to confirm Trump's defense nominee and intensifying their criticism of the current administration's management of the tragic incident.

"The letter states that we have been observing the current administration's inaction and disregard for the sacrifices made by our children on that fateful day. Despite our requests for answers, they have shown no interest in addressing our concerns and have instead chosen to ignore Afghanistan, as demonstrated by President Biden's final address on his foreign affairs and his supposed achievements."

The coalition has been critical of the Biden administration since the withdrawal, stating in a letter that they have been "ignored" by his administration.

The coalition expressed frustration after being stonewalled and given inadequate information at every turn, feeling that there has been a complete coverup at the Department of Defense with the current Secretary of Defense leading the way.

The confirmation of Hegseth to lead the Defense Department marks the beginning of the process for accountability over Afghanistan.

The letter requests that you understand and share our suffering, knowing that it could have been prevented in relation to the events that affected our children.

The chaotic withdrawal of the Biden administration from Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members defending the Kabul airport during the operation, while hundreds of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghan allies were left in the country under Taliban rule. Conservative critics, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, claimed that the withdrawal paved the way for adversaries such as Russia to invade Ukraine.

The Taliban claimed control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal.

The families who lost loved ones during the botched withdrawal have consistently criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their deaths, including launching a harsh attack against Harris during her presidential campaign last year. Parents and other loved ones have accused the administration of being responsible for their loved ones' deaths and have not received any support from the government.

Trump invited the families of fallen service members to the Republican convention in Milwaukee in July.

"Cheryl Juels, the aunt of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, stated at the RNC, "Look at our faces, our pain, and our heartbreak. And look at our rage. The Afghanistan withdrawal was not an extraordinary success. Joe Biden owes the men and women who served in Afghanistan a debt of gratitude, and an apology.""

Nicole Gee's mother-in-law stated that while Joe Biden did not recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours with them in Bedminster, allowing them to grieve and remember their heroes. Trump knew the names, stories, and feelings of their children, making them feel understood.