Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months to protest the Pentagon’s payment of abortion-related travel costs, said on Tuesday he would lift his hold on some of them.
Quick Read
- Partial Lift of Promotion Block: Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville announced he would lift his hold on some of the military promotions he has been blocking for months.
- Original Reason for Block: Tuberville’s initial decision to block these promotions was a protest against the Pentagon’s policy of paying for abortion-related travel costs for service members.
- Impact of the Hold: The hold affected around 400 officers and their families, along with lower-level officers in the military. Pentagon leaders have expressed concerns that these holds threatened national security.
- Current Status of the Hold: Tuberville stated that he still maintains a hold on 11 four-star generals but has released the hold on all others.
- Outcome of the Protest: Tuberville described the outcome as “pretty much a draw,” indicating that neither side fully achieved what they wanted.
- Tuberville’s Position: A social conservative from Alabama, Tuberville began his protest in March, targeting confirmations to senior Pentagon posts over the policy enacted last year.
- Democratic Response: Democrats have suggested that Tuberville should express his policy objections by targeting Biden nominees who are directly involved with policy matters.
Reuters has the story:
Senator Tuberville lifts blockade on some US military promotions
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, (Reuters)
Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months to protest the Pentagon’s payment of abortion-related travel costs, said on Tuesday he would lift his hold on some of them.
Tuberville’s actions have affected some 400 officers and their families, as well as lower-level officers in the military. Pentagon leaders have said the holds threatened national security.
“I’ve still got a hold on, I think, 11 four-star generals. Everybody else is completely released by me,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was pretty much a draw. They didn’t get what they wanted. We didn’t get what we wanted,” he said.
Republican Tuberville, a social conservative from Alabama, began blocking confirmations to senior Pentagon posts in March to protest a Pentagon policy enacted last year that provides paid leave and reimburses costs for service members who travel to get an abortion.
Democrats have said Tuberville should show his objection on a policy matter by targeting Biden nominees involved with policy.
