US Congressman Claims Hundreds of Millions in Aid Wasted on Unfinished Afghan Road Projects

US Representative Cory Mills stated that hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid were wasted on unfinished road construction projects in Afghanistan. Speaking Tuesday during a House session on waste, corruption and abuse in foreign aid, Mills highlighted one project between 2005 and 2017 on which $259 million was spent but which was never completed.

Mills said the project reached only about 15% completion after 12 years, with even those sections quickly destroyed. Drawing from his own experience in Afghanistan, he accused contractors of exploiting weak oversight to profit without delivering results. "Whether through local non-governmental organizations, large for-profit companies, or international organizations, opportunistic individuals have abused the weaknesses in the foreign aid system over the years," Mills said.

He claimed a significant portion of US aid had reached "enemies of the American people." Mills cited a 2025 report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which stated that only 30-40% of financial aid ultimately reaches the people, with much lost to costs, bribes and extortion. He added that terrorist groups worldwide have benefited from such aid abuses.

Adam Kaplan, deputy inspector general of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told the session that the agency continues to probe major fraud cases. He announced the discovery of a $550 million bribery case and noted that United Nations cooperation on US aid fraud investigations often involves delays of more than two years. Kaplan stressed the need for precise oversight, transparency in reporting and thorough vetting of implementing entities to protect American taxpayers' money.