(CNN) Nearly two dozen Republican lawmakers have written to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to express "serious concerns" about the anticipated US-Taliban deal.

Led by Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, the 22 members of Congress said they "are seeking assurances that you will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban, and undermine our ally, the current government of Afghanistan."

The US is expected to ink a deal with the militant group on Saturday that would eventually bring about an end to America's longest-running war. Under the plan, the American military presence would be reduced to 8,600 troops from the current 12,000 to 13,000 over the course of 135 days, according to two sources familiar with the agreement. Pompeo said Tuesday that the US would sign the deal "if and only if" the week-long reduction in violence in Afghanistan is successful.

In the letter sent Wednesday, the lawmakers outline seven specific assurances about the expected deal, including that it "will not contain any secret annexes of side deals," that it "must not contain a commitment for a full U.S. withdrawal at this point," and that it not establish intelligence sharing or a "joint counterterrorism center" with the Taliban.

During a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, Cheney asked Esper about "secret side deals with the Taliban." The defense secretary said "nothing comes to mind."

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