Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville faces escalating condemnation for “withholding” military promotions and nominations, which a veterans group warns will set a “dangerous precedent” of using U.S. service members as political pawns.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the nation’s largest and oldest veterans service organization with more than 1.5 million members, sent Tuberville a letter on Monday calling on him to “remove control of regular promotions.” Military generals and officers. “
VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento also pointed the finger at Tuberville, saying in a statement that the Republican actions “will take years to resolve.”
“The bottom line for the Volunteer Force is simple: Political disputes must be handled by politicians, not internally within the all-volunteer force,” Sarmiento said. “Senator Tuberville’s control of these routine promotions has consequences for the entire active-duty force. The impact will take years to resolve. By sending this letter, the VA is making our voices clear – this is not what Congress should be doing.”
Weekly newspaper Representatives from Tuberville and the VFW were contacted via email Monday evening for comment.
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Tuberville has come under increasing criticism as he continues a months-long stymieing of promotions and nominations within the Department of Defense (DoD). The Republican has previously said his opposition was in protest of Pentagon policy on abortion among military personnel.
Tuberville said the Pentagon’s abortion policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion unless the procedure saves the mother’s life or in cases of incest or rape.
Tuberville’s actions were condemned by Pentagon officials and President Joe Biden, as well as colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Confirming a military nomination requires a unanimous vote from all committee members, giving Tuberville veto power. The senator’s opponents say he put national security at risk and punished military families by blocking hundreds of promotions.
The VFW warned Tuberville in a letter to senators that the Republican “pause” on military promotions would have “far-reaching consequences,” wrote Ryan Gallucci, executive director of the VFW’s Washington office.
“I am writing to call on you to cancel routine promotions to America’s generals and officers,” Gallucci said. “One of the Veterans Front’s top national security priorities is to preserve an all-volunteer force. At a time when recruiting is facing challenges, this The instability created by the hold will be devastating to the brave Americans who volunteer to serve in today’s military and those of the VFW who called on the Senate to address this issue earlier this summer, and now we are directly calling on you to end this hold before we create a path to harm for American service members. A very dangerous precedent to use as a political bargaining chip in Washington.”
Sarmiento said the Army, Navy and Marine Corps had not confirmed service chiefs as of Monday, in addition to “hundreds” of other routine promotions that Tuberville rejected without “unnecessary bureaucracy.” The confirmation was stalled. program”.
