Facing heavy criticism from the media and pressure to extend the deadline of withdrawal, the Biden administration said Tuesday that there is no change in plans to evacuate every American and Afghan ally from Afghanistan by Aug 31.

“We’re absolutely still aiming towards the end of the month,’’ said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

Kirby notes “several thousand” Americans have been evacuated but was unable to provide a percentage of how many Americans have left the war-torn country as Biden's deadline looms.

The Pentagon has used a total of four military bases in New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin to house a combined 25,000 Afghan refugees, according to Kirby.

The Air Force sent three dozen C-17 transport planes to Kabul on Monday to speed up evacuations, adding as many as 20,000 people are awaiting an airlift. According to one White House official, as many as 58,700 people have been evacuated since Aug. 14 when the Taliban took full control of the government. Since late July, the U.S. has relocated 63,900 people.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., believes it is “unlikely” Biden will be able to evacuate the remaining Americans and Afghan allies by his desired deadline.

“I think it’s possible but I think it is very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated,” Schiff said.

Biden has remained adamant that U.S. troops will stay until every American and every SIV (special immigrant visa) Afghan applicant has successfully evacuated the country. Biden sent thousands of troops to the Kabul airport after the Taliban took over the country in less than two weeks. There are nearly 6,000 U.S. troops left in Afghanistan assisting with the evacuation process.

According to one official, Biden is open to staying longer if necessary. The official noted that the administration has been in regular contact with the Taliban and that the timeline is contingent on the Taliban cooperating.

The Taliban has warned the U.S. that they will not let Afghans leave the country if the U.S. is unable to evacuate on their original timeline of Aug, 31. The Washington Post is reporting the Taliban will not let Afghans seeking to flee the country go to the Kabul airport.

“The Afghans leaving, we are not going to allow that, and we are not even happy about it,” said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

Mujahid added that Afghan doctors and academics should not leave Afghanistan and they “should work in their own special areas. They should not go to other countries, to those western countries.”

One U.S. official has stated it would not be a question of "if, but when" Taliban militants would attack if the U.S. is unable to evacuate in time. The Pentagon remains confident the military will be able to evacuate all Americans but their ability to evacuate all Afghan allies seeking visas remains unclear.

Afghanistan