In a surprising turn of events, Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has lifted his hold on military promotions after months of deadlock over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. The Republican senator’s decision comes amid mounting pressure from lawmakers, including some within his own party, to drop the holds. Tuberville placed the blame on Democratic senators for their refusal to negotiate, accusing them of standing by an unlawful executive order.
“I couldn’t get anybody to negotiate,” Tuberville stated. “Democrats cared nothing about negotiating, and they wanted to stick by the unlawful executive order.”
While Tuberville has released all holds except for a dozen four-star generals, whom he intends to vote for when they are brought to the floor, his change of stance is seen as a response to a Democrat-led effort to change Senate rules. This proposed change would allow hundreds of promotions to proceed without individual voting. Tuberville admitted to hating to drop the holds but claimed that he did not want the rules of the Senate to be altered.
“You can only fight for so long, and when you’ve basically run out of options, it’s time to change your game plan,” Tuberville explained. “So, now my game plan will be to work on it for the budget next year and also try to get President Trump elected because he will change it back.”
Tuberville also criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, alleging that he had changed the rules in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by not allowing a vote to remove the abortion policy from the budget earlier this year. According to Tuberville, Schumer’s ability to change the rules made it impossible to defeat him.
The senator initially began blocking President Biden’s military nominations in February due to his belief that the Pentagon’s policy of providing travel expense reimbursements to service members seeking abortion was illegal. The Biden administration implemented this policy last year following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and stated that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion.
Nearly 400 military nominations have been in limbo due to Tuberville’s blanket hold on confirmations and promotions for senior military officers, leading to criticism from opponents who argue that key national security positions remain unfilled and military families face an uncertain future.
Alternative approaches to challenge the Pentagon’s policy have emerged in recent months. Senator Lindsey Graham proposed taking the matter to court, a move that would require the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson to gain momentum for a lawsuit. Tuberville expressed confidence that this avenue would eventually be pursued but acknowledged that the court system takes time and the effort would need to start in the House.
Despite the outcome not being what he desired, Tuberville affirmed his commitment to fighting against the abortion policy, emphasizing his concerns about the illegal use of taxpayer money. The senator’s decision to relent on the military promotions marks an important development in an ongoing battle within the Senate.
[Author’s Name] is a writer who covers politics and leads Digital’s coverage of the Senate. Stay updated on the latest from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content by subscribing to our newsletter.
