Former Biden NSC Official Faces Republican Criticism Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Role in NY Congressional Race

A Democratic congressional candidate and former Biden administration national security official is drawing sharp criticism from Republicans over her connection to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Cait Conley, who is challenging Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s competitive Hudson Valley district, previously served as a director for counterterrorism on President Joe Biden’s National Security Council (NSC) focused on Middle East issues. Her tenure coincided with the controversial U.S. military exit from Afghanistan that resulted in 13 American service members and more than 160 Afghans killed in a suicide bombing outside Kabul’s airport.

While Conley has prominently featured her national security credentials in campaign messaging – including being banned from Russia for her work under Biden and operating from the White House Situation Room – she has remained notably silent about her potential role in the Afghanistan withdrawal planning.

“That’s her record and if she wants to run on it, she should have to answer for it and apologize for it,” said Ciro Riccardi, spokesman for the Lawler campaign, in a statement. “Why should Hudson Valley families trust her judgment on national security now?”

The Lawler campaign characterized the withdrawal as one of the “worst national security failures in modern history.” The National Republican Congressional Committee echoed this sentiment, with spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole stating bluntly: “She can’t be trusted to keep New Yorkers safe either. It’s just that simple.”

Multiple requests for comment from the Conley campaign seeking clarification on her involvement in the Afghanistan withdrawal went unanswered.

Though Conley’s specific responsibilities at the NSC have not been publicly detailed, her counterterrorism position would likely have placed her in discussions about the planning and execution of the evacuation. House Foreign Affairs Committee investigations have revealed that the NSC and then-national security advisor Jake Sullivan played significant roles in the decision-making process leading up to the withdrawal.

Critics have faulted the Biden administration for failing to anticipate the Afghan government’s rapid collapse and for inadequate security planning that left U.S. service members vulnerable to the deadly Abbey Gate terrorist attack. The evacuation also left hundreds of American citizens behind as Taliban forces rapidly regained control of the country.

Conley is a combat veteran with 16 years of active-duty service as an Army officer. Following her NSC role, she served as a senior advisor at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency until January 2025. Her campaign has emphasized her national security background as a key qualification for office.

The congressional race in New York’s 17th district is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the country. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a “toss-up” after recently adjusting its rating to favor Democrats. Former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carried the district in the 2024 presidential election, adding to its battleground status.

Conley is competing in a June Democratic primary against several challengers, including Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson and progressive candidate Effie Phillips-Staley. The winner will face Lawler, a first-term congressman who has made national security issues central to his critique of Conley.

The controversy highlights how foreign policy decisions from the Biden administration continue to impact Democratic candidates in competitive races, particularly those with direct ties to controversial policy decisions. As primary and general election campaigns intensify, voters in this swing district will likely hear more about the Afghanistan withdrawal and its relevance to the congressional contest.