Pentagon Watchdog Opens Investigation Into Biden’s Gaza Pier Amid Operational Failures

The internal watchdog of the Pentagon has launched an investigation into the Biden administration’s Gaza aid pier, the agency announced on Thursday.

The $230 million floating pier, meant to serve as a maritime route for aid delivery via the Mediterranean Sea, has faced a series of problems since it was opened in mid-May, prompting concerns that it cannot fulfill its task. The Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Offices of Inspector General (OIG) are conducting a coordinated investigation to “assess the effectiveness” of the pier’s ability to deliver aid, according to the announcement.

“The DoD OIG and USAID OIG are working together to address the challenges associated with this mission. Through our collaboration, we will leverage the unique expertise, resources, and capabilities of our teams to optimize our oversight in this important area,” Pentagon Inspector General Robert P. Storch said in a statement.

The investigation comes after weeks of operational and logistical issues that have routinely shuttered the pier, hampered aid delivery to the Palestinians and potentially endangered U.S. troops. President Joe Biden told the Pentagon about his plan for the pier only days before publicly announcing it, leaving defense officials scrambling