Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.: "It's a hard day today. As you know, two suicide bombers, assessed to have been ISIS fighters, detonated...At this time, we know that 12 U.S. service members have been killed in the attack and 15 more service members have been injured."

Military troops must immediately begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo Wednesday, ordering service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Afghanistan evacuation: "Since August 14th, more than 82,300 people have been safely flown out of Kabul...we've evacuated at least 4,500 U.S. citizens and likely more."

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Reps. Moulton & Meijer Afghanistan trip: "I just watched Speaker Pelosi answer that question. I think that's the most time she's spent on Afghanistan all week and it offended me."

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) going to Afghanistan: "This is deadly serious. I do not want members to go...It was not in my view a good idea."

WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki on coronavirus origins review/report: "He did not just receive a copy, he received a briefing yesterday on the 90-day origins report. It was a classified briefing...the intelligence community has been simultaneously working on an unclassified version..."

President Biden, "We are currently on a pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we can finish the better. Each day of operations brings added risks to our troops, but the completion by August 31 depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate."

WH COVID-⁠19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients says the administration expects “more and more vaccination requirements” in private and public sectors.

Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor: "I'm pleased to report our best departure results since evacuation operations began have happened in the last 24 hours."

President Joe Biden called on more companies in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements.