Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has continued his blockade of promotions in the military, preventing the approval of hundreds of nominations. This move is in protest of the Defense Department’s abortion policy. On Thursday, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine read out the names of 364 military officers who have been nominated for promotion, urging their approval. However, Tuberville objected to all of them.
Tuberville has been blocking the swift confirmation of high-level military promotions since February, aiming to draw attention to the Pentagon’s policy of covering travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents. This logjam has had detrimental effects on national security, leaving key positions vacant and hampering recruitment and retention efforts.
According to Senate rules, one lawmaker can hold up nominations, even if the other 99 senators are in favor of their quick approval. Tuberville’s blockade has faced opposition not only from Democrats but also from some fellow Republicans. Critics argue that he should focus on targeting nominees involved with policy instead of punishing deserving military members who have earned their promotions.
Senator Kaine highlighted the distressing situation faced by these individuals, emphasizing the limbo they are stuck in due to the blockage. Tuberville defended his actions, stating that he is utilizing the only means available to a Republican in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Tuberville’s blockade marks a departure from decades of routine approval of large numbers of military promotions in the Senate. He suggests that the Senate could bypass his actions by approving promotions one at a time, although this process would take several months. In response, Democratic leaders in the Senate are working on a rules change to overcome Tuberville’s blockade.
It is worth noting that several states have recently restricted abortion access following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling. The Pentagon funds travel to ensure that female service members are not denied access to abortion services due to their stationed location.
The situation remains unresolved as the Senate grapples with Tuberville’s actions and seeks a way to move forward.
