FBI Director Kash Patel sharply criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Afghan refugee vetting this week, calling it an “emblematic failure” that may have directly contributed to the deadly ambush of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.

Patel made the remarks during an appearance on The Ingraham Angle, just days after federal prosecutors formally charged Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal with multiple crimes stemming from the November 26 shooting.

“This case shows the emblematic failure of the Biden administration to properly vet individuals who entered the country after the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Patel said. “This is exactly what happens when national security is treated as an afterthought.”

Deadly Attack Sparks Renewed Scrutiny

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that Lakanwal has been charged with four felony counts, including murder, in connection with the shooting that killed U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard, and critically wounded U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remains hospitalized.

Lakanwal is currently under armed guard in a hospital, and a D.C. Superior Court judge has ordered him held without bond.

Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed a motive, but the case has reignited longstanding concerns over how Afghan nationals were screened during the chaotic evacuation following the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021.

Warnings Ignored After Afghanistan Withdrawal

Patel’s comments echoed findings from a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report released in September 2022, which concluded that U.S. Customs and Border Protection “did not always have critical data to properly screen, vet, or inspect Afghan evacuees.”

In many cases, border officials lacked complete biometric information, background records, or verified identity documents — gaps that critics say left the system vulnerable to exploitation.

Despite repeated assurances from Biden administration officials that evacuees were thoroughly screened, multiple watchdog reports later contradicted those claims.

“This wasn’t an unforeseen problem,” Patel said. “The warnings were there. They were ignored.”

Ongoing Terrorism Investigation

Patel confirmed that the FBI is now leading a wide-ranging international terrorism investigation to determine when and how Lakanwal may have become radicalized.

“This is a sprawling investigation,” Patel explained. “We’ve already executed dozens of legal processes, seized multiple devices, searched residences, and interviewed individuals connected to the suspect.”

“We are not leaving any stone unturned,” he added. “Anyone this individual communicated with is being examined.”

Patel emphasized that the investigation extends beyond a single suspect and into broader security vulnerabilities that may still exist.

Promise of Comprehensive Re-Vetting

In a notable shift from previous policies, Patel vowed that federal authorities are now reviewing every individual who entered the U.S. following the Afghan evacuation, regardless of legal status.

“We are going back through the process — legally, illegally, or otherwise — to ensure there are no criminal records, derogatory information, or terrorist ties that were missed,” he said.

That effort aligns with an announcement earlier this week by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who unveiled a sweeping overhaul of migrant vetting procedures.

Under the new framework, countries of origin will be required to cross-reference biometric and criminal data before individuals are admitted into the United States — a measure critics argue should have been in place years ago.

Political Fallout Intensifies

The Guard attack has intensified criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration and refugee policies, particularly as violent incidents involving foreign nationals draw increased public scrutiny.

Republican lawmakers argue the tragedy underscores the cost of prioritizing speed and optics over security, while Democrats have largely avoided addressing the vetting failures directly.

For Patel, the issue is straightforward.

“This was preventable,” he said. “And the American people deserve accountability.”

A Defining Test for Federal Security Policy

As the investigation continues, the case is shaping up to be one of the most consequential national-security reckonings tied to the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Beyond the criminal charges, it raises deeper questions about how many vulnerabilities remain unaddressed — and how many warnings were ignored.

For the families of the victims, those questions come too late.

But for federal agencies now tasked with restoring public trust, Patel made clear the standard moving forward will be far different than it was in 2021.

“That era is over,” he said. “Security comes first.”