Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is facing backlash this weekend for continuing to block hundreds of military promotions in protest of Pentagon policies on abortion.
Tuberville, a former Auburn University football coach elected in 2020, has protested his nomination within the Department of Defense (DOD) over the past few months, initially objecting to abortion-related policies within the Pentagon, such as the agency’s help paying for abortions. Certain expenses, such as travel expenses, cover the cost of military members and their families undergoing medical procedures if they are not available.
Tuberville said the Pentagon’s abortion policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion procedures unless it is to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape.
Tuberville, who has no military experience, has been criticized by military and public officials who say he undermines national security and punishes military families.
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Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren appears on MSNBC good morning joe Friday to talk about the action in Tuberville.
“Senator Tommy Tuberville has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months, playing politics with our troops and their families. Senate Republicans allowing this to continue are undermining national security. This is not only dangerous , and it’s shameful,” Warren wrote onpreviously tweeted, while also sharing a clip of her interview.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in an appearance on CNN on Saturday that the block on military promotions was unprecedented.
“Senator Tuberville had no experience in the military. I think this was his first time in public service and I don’t think he realized how big an impact this would have and how negative it would be for the military,” he said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army veteran Fred Wellman write on X Republican senator ‘is a liar’ on Saturday.
In a statement shared exclusively with Breitbart News last month, Tuberville said he was “warning the Pentagon that I will retain their most senior nominees if they violate the law.”
“They did it anyway and forced my hand. Since then, [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer and the Biden administration have refused to engage in any serious negotiations, and so this has continued,” he said. “That has given me more time to look more closely into the backgrounds of some of these nominees, and I’m Deeply concerned about some of them. I will continue this oversight process and will announce my opposition to specific nominees in the coming weeks. “
according to Washington postAs of August 12, Tuberville’s decision to block Defense Department nominations has affected at least 301 positions, with that number expected to increase to about 650.
In direct response to the ongoing lockdown in Tuberville, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., called on the Senate to change its rules.
“I hope the Senate will change their rules so that one senator no longer has that power so that we can truly have a democracy where you have a fair shot,” Smith said on CNN on Friday. vote.”
The Democratic senator added: “The inability to appoint top leaders to their positions under these circumstances is incredibly damaging to this country’s defense and national security and all but undermines our ability to protect this country. Ability, line.”
James Stavridis, a retired four-star admiral who served in the U.S. Navy for 37 years, agreed with Smith in an X post posted Saturday afternoon.
“I agree with @RepAdamSmith. There is no reason or reason a senator should be allowed (or able) to take US military hostages. Any beef? Pass a law,” he wrote.
As Tuberville continues to face strong opposition, congressional Republican leaders have tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with him, The Hill reported Sunday.
Republican leaders are trying to engage in dialogue and find a solution with Tuberville, one Senate Republican who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Hill in July to find a satisfactory solution for Tuberville and those opposed to the hold. The solution has become a “recurring discussion” in the Senate Republican conference.
“This idea has been around for a while. I support his goals,” South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune said at the time. “The challenge is obviously his mechanics [Tuberville] Used to obtain results poses some challenges. We hope to find a way to address this issue and resolve this issue. “
Weekly newspaper Tuberville and the Department of Defense have been contacted via email for comment.
