Biden’s Gaza Pier Failure Investigated by Pentagon Watchdog

(RepublicanNews.org) – On June 27th, an investigation into the Gaza aid pier constructed by the Biden administration was opened by the Inspectors General at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Pentagon.

A statement from the offices of both Inspectors General notes that “coordinated, independent oversight projects” have been launched by both agencies.

The investigation comes as the $320 million floating pier that opened in mid-May faces problems, raising concerns that it will not be able to deliver aid to people in Gaza. President Joe Biden informed the Pentagon about his intentions to build the floating pier just days before publicly announcing its construction in May, meaning the U.S. military was forced to construct it quickly. However, logistical and operational issues have caused the pier to be routinely closed, delaying needed aid for Palestinians.

The weather has played a role in the closures that affect the pier. Rough weather in mid-May, not long after the floating pier opened, caused it to quickly be torn apart. Since then, bad weather and rough seas have caused the pier to shut down multiple times.

The pier was built to help humanitarian aid agencies get food further into Gaza. However, because the humanitarian convoys have come under attack, much of the food is still sitting in the adjacent storage yard.

In June, the United Nations chief agency that controls aid distribution in Gaza announced that, due to security concerns, it would stop making deliveries to the pier. According to reports, U.S. officials have told Gaza humanitarian aid organizations that the floating pier would be closed soon, until at least September.

The independent watchdog at the Pentagon launched the investigation due to “significant public interest in this topic,” according to Department of Defense Inspector General spokesperson Mollie Halpern.

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Simone Ledeen called the floating pier “A huge waste of human and financial resources.”