Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville’s months-long standoff over the Pentagon’s abortion care policy is causing concern among top military officials, who warn that it is putting national security at risk. In a Washington Post op-ed, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall express their frustration over Tuberville’s holds on military promotions, which have been in place for six months. They argue that while senators have the right to oppose specific policies, placing a blanket hold on all general and flag officer nominees is unfair to military leaders and their families.
Tuberville, from Alabama, has delayed the confirmations of over 300 top military nominees due to his opposition to the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing service members and their families for travel expenses related to abortion care. This has resulted in the three military services operating without a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in history. While it is possible to confirm each nominee individually, Senate Democrats argue that this would be time-consuming and would take up valuable floor time. The Senate is reconvening on Tuesday after a five-week recess.
The military officials warn that Tuberville’s holds are eroding the foundation of America’s military advantage and causing financial stress for military officers and their families. They highlight the significant expenses incurred by officers due to relocations and the difficulties faced by military spouses in finding employment. The holds also have a domino effect on junior officers and disrupt the lives of military children who frequently change schools.
The op-ed concludes by calling on senators to lift the holds and confirm the senior military leaders. Tuberville’s spokesperson, Steven Stafford, argues that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could confirm all the service chiefs in one day but has chosen not to. Tuberville himself claims that he is trying to remove politics from the military, accusing the Biden administration of injecting politics by implementing an unlawful abortion policy.
The Pentagon maintains that its reproductive health policies, including the reimbursement of travel expenses for abortions, are lawful. Tuberville’s holds began in March and have continued despite mounting public pressure. In July, active-duty military spouses delivered a petition to Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Tuberville, expressing their concerns about the blocking of senior military leaders’ confirmations.
By the end of the year, over 600 military officers will be up for nomination, including the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown. Currently, acting officers are filling important positions such as the chief of naval operations, Army chief of staff, and Marine Corps commandant. In some cases, the acting officers are of lower rank than the officers nominated for the positions, potentially impacting the effectiveness of these roles.
The delay in confirming senior military leaders raises concerns about the impact on national security and the smooth functioning of the military. It remains to be seen whether Tuberville’s holds will be lifted and the confirmations can proceed smoothly.
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