Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has called on the Biden administration to halt the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) operation off the coast of Gaza. In a letter addressed to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rep. Rogers criticized the operation as a “gross waste of taxpayer dollars” and urged the administration to consider alternative methods for delivering humanitarian aid.
In his letter, Rep. Rogers highlighted several issues with the JLOTS operation, which was announced by President Biden as a maritime corridor for Gaza three and a half months ago. According to Rogers, the operation has been plagued by setbacks and inefficiencies, costing at least $230 million without achieving its intended goals. He noted that the operation has been sidelined more often than operational and has failed to deliver aid at the expected capacity.
“Three and a half months since the President’s announcement of a maritime corridor for Gaza and at least $230 million wasted, the operation has been riddled with setbacks, sidelined more often than operational, and can only be classified as a gross waste of taxpayer dollars,” Rogers wrote.
Rogers further emphasized the impact on military resources, stating that the JLOTS operation is diverting personnel and assets from primary missions in the Central Command area, where over 150 attacks on U.S. servicemembers have occurred since October 7th. He also cited an incident on May 23rd in which three U.S. servicemembers sustained non-combat injuries while supporting the JLOTS operation, with one reported to be in critical condition.
“JLOTS is diverting military personnel and assets from primary missions in the highly contested Central Command area of responsibility where over one-hundred and fifty attacks on U.S. servicemembers have occurred since October 7th. Worse, on May 23rd, three U.S. servicemembers sustained non-combat injuries supporting the JLOTS operation. One of the injured servicemembers is reported to be in critical condition,” Rogers noted.
According to Rogers, the operation has only moved 3,415 metric tons of aid onto the beach in Gaza, far below its estimated capacity of 150 trucks per day. The Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies described the volume as “negligible.”
Rogers concluded his letter by urging the administration to cease the JLOTS operation and explore land and air-based alternatives for humanitarian aid delivery. He also referenced the House Armed Services Committee’s oversight responsibilities and recent amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act aimed at prohibiting funding for the operation.
“I urge the Administration to immediately cease this failed operation before further catastrophe occurs and consider alternative means of land and air-based humanitarian aid delivery,” Rogers wrote.
The Biden administration has yet to respond to Rogers’ letter.
