In an extraordinary debate on the Senate floor, Republican senators have criticized Senator Tommy Tuberville's hold on promotions for senior military officials.[0] These promotions have been stalled due to Tuberville's objection to the Pentagon's policy on travel for abortion care. The policy was implemented after the reversal of Roe v. Wade last year.
Tuberville's objection has prompted Senate Democrats, including Senator Kyrsten Sinema, and a few Republicans to consider using a rarely used procedural tactic to bypass his blockade. This tactic would allow for individual votes on the nominations, rather than waiting for Tuberville to lift his hold on all of them. However, this process would be time-consuming and could impede progress on other important issues.
The Senate has already taken limited action to bypass Tuberville's hold by voting individually on a small number of key nominees in recent months.[1] However, there are still over 370 nominations pending, and it would take weeks to individually vote on all of them.
A vote to bypass Tuberville's hold on the remaining nominations is likely weeks away, as it needs to go through the committee process.[2] Some Republican senators have rejected the idea, expressing concerns that it could weaken their ability to stall nominations in the future.[2]
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has taken steps to advance the nominations of Adm. Lisa Franchetti for chief of Naval Operations, Gen. David Allvin for Air Force chief of staff, and Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney for assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.[3] These nominations have been delayed for months due to Tuberville's hold.
Tuberville has been holding up military promotions since February due to his objection to a Department of Defense policy that reimburses travel costs for military members seeking reproductive care outside of their stationed state.[4] The policy was put in place after Roe v. Wade was overturned, leaving the issue of abortion to individual states.
This blockade by Tuberville has prompted a group of Senate Republicans to attempt to overcome his hold on the nominations, marking the first time GOP members have taken this action. Some of Tuberville's fellow Republicans are also trying to find ways around his blockade.
Schumer has criticized Tuberville's holds, stating that they are harming military preparedness and causing unnecessary suffering for military families. He has called on Tuberville to drop his holds and allow the nominations to proceed.
Graham, one of Tuberville's fellow Republicans, has also criticized his actions, stating that they are damaging the military.[5] He argued that Tuberville's holds are unjustly denying promotions to deserving individuals who have nothing to do with the policy he is objecting to.
Tuberville has defended his actions, claiming that the Biden administration would rather “burn down the Senate” than negotiate.[6] He believes that changing the Senate's rules to bypass his hold would have lasting consequences.
The resolution introduced by Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed would allow the promotions to be processed together.[7] Schumer has expressed support for this resolution and plans to bring it to the Senate floor once it clears the Senate Rules Committee.[7]
Overall, the debate surrounding Tuberville's hold on military nominations has highlighted divisions within the Senate and the potential consequences of such actions. The ongoing impasse has raised concerns about the impact on military readiness and the fair treatment of deserving individuals.
0. “GOP Senators Blast Tommy Tuberville Over Blockade On Military Promotions” Yahoo! Voices, 2 Nov. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/gop-senators-blast-tommy-tuberville-002256516.html
1. “Tuberville pressured by Republicans on Senate floor to end hold on military nominations” CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tuberville-republican-pressure-military-nominations/
2. “Senate Republicans erupt in anger over Tuberville's military freeze” The Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/01/tuberville-military-promotion-hold/
3. “Chuck Schumer presses forward with top military nominees amid Tommy Tuberville's blockade” NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-presses-forward-top-military-nominees-tommy-tubervilles-rcna123122
4. “Schumer moves ahead on 3 key military nominees who have been delayed by Tuberville” CNN, 1 Nov. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/politics/schumer-tuberville-military-nominees/index.html
5. “Tommy Tuberville’s Republican colleagues decry his military holds on the Senate floor” KTVZ, 2 Nov. 2023, https://ktvz.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/11/01/tommy-tubervilles-republican-colleagues-decry-his-military-holds-on-the-senate-floor
6. “Tuberville falsely claims Dems ‘created’ wars in Ukraine, Middle East” MSNBC, 30 Oct. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/tuberville-falsely-claims-dems-created-wars-ukraine-middle-east-rcna122751
7. “In a reversal, Schumer says he will move forward to confirm hundreds military promotions previously held up by Tuberville” Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News, 1 Nov. 2023, https://whdh.com/news/in-a-reversal-schumer-says-he-will-move-forward-to-confirm-hundreds-military-promotions-previously-held-up-by-tuberville/
