Sen. Tuberville Blocks Biden’s Military Nominations Over Administration’s New Abortion Policy

The standoff between Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and the Department of Defense continues over the issue of abortion. An estimated 250 military nominees are up for promotion, but the path is blocked over Tuberville’s concerns about new military policy.

The Biden administration imposed new edicts that provide transportation for pregnant military members to have abortions. This is available to those who live in states where they are limited or banned.

The White House action followed the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last year and sending the issue to the states.

Tuberville, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, firmly opposes having taxpayer dollars pay for abortion access and has held up military promotions for civilian, “flag,” and general officers. There are also high-level promotions in the Pentagon that are stalled.

The Republican’s protest is now in its fourth month. He explained that federal law limits taxpayer funding for abortion to extreme cases, and thus the DoD policy is in violation of this statute. 

Tuberville told the Washington Examiner that it is an illegal policy, and the Pentagon does not have the authority to change the law. If it is to be changed, he charged, that action has to come through Congress. 

The former coach said the military knew in advance that he would act, “but they did it anyway.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin claimed there will be “powerful effects” on military readiness if Tuberville’s protest is allowed to continue. “The effects are cumulative and it will affect families, it will affect kids going to schools…it’s a powerful effect and it will impact our readiness.”

Austin’s line was parroted by the White House. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in April, “This political showmanship could have a serious impact on our military readiness, on our military forces and our national security.”

There is also resistance from some in Tuberville’s own party.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told journalists that he does not back Tuberville’s hold on military nominations, saying “I don’t support that.”

The Alabama senator is unmoved, however, and recently doubled down on his resistance to leftist military policy. “Everything that they touch, they ruined. Now they want to ruin and turn us into a woke military, and I’m not going to put up with it.”