Mike Lee criticizes GOP colleagues protesting Tuberville hold, questioning their credibility.
Republican Senators Protest Pentagon’s Abortion Policy to Maintain Hold on Military Nominations
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee joined GOP Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville late Thursday night to maintain a hold on military nominations in protest of the Pentagon’s radical abortion policy.
After the upper chamber approved a series of late-night proposals, including a last-minute measure to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, several Republicans led by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan stood up to circumvent Tuberville’s hold and confirm nominees. Sullivan was joined by GOP Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Todd Young of Indiana.
“We were down on the floor weeks ago, and at that time, we promised military members and their families that we had their back, that we would keep coming down to the Senate floor to try to move forward their nominations and confirmations that have been stalled,” Sullivan said. “Tonight, we’re going to bring up some more members.”
Sullivan slammed his Alabama colleague for jeopardizing military morale and readiness when overseas threats in China and the Middle East continue to raise the risk of global conflict.
“I wish we could resolve this,” Sullivan said. “I’m on the floor here more out of sadness and frustration than anger. I really do wish with my colleague, Senator Tuberville, we can find a way forward on this fast, to turn to the even bigger readiness problem.”
Lawmakers spent the next three hours trying to ram through stalled military promotions but were blocked by Lee, who chairs the Senate Steering Committee and spoke at length in defense of Tuberville’s hold with each objection. Tuberville, Lee said, has “chosen a tactic that is legitimate, and he has every right to deploy under the rules of the Senate, rules that go back nearly two and a half centuries.”
Tuberville placed a hold on military promotions earlier this year when the Defense Department implemented a new policy allowing servicemembers three weeks of paid leave for abortion-related travel. Federal law, however, prohibits U.S. tax dollars from funding abortion. According to the Pentagon, more than 450 military promotions have been put on hold since the Alabama lawmaker began pressuring the Biden administration to reverse course.
“You cannot use Department of Defense funds or Department of Defense facilities or property for abortion,” Lee said on the Senate floor. “You cannot do that in the absence of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother is in jeopardy unless the abortion happens.”
“You can’t legislate from the E-ring of the Pentagon no matter how strongly he feels, no matter how compelling his urge to facilitate the performance of abortion using federal funds contrary to public opinion, contrary to federal law. He does not have that power. And shame on him,” Lee added forcefully. “It is to his everlasting shame that he would arrogate to himself that power and then have the audacity to blame Senator Tuberville for the slowdown that he himself knowingly, willfully, shamefully created.”
The senior senator from Utah also pushed back on accusations from Tuberville’s opponents that such holds have jeopardized military readiness.
“If this is affecting military readiness, so be it,” Lee said, reminding colleagues that Democrats who run the White House and the Pentagon can “end it tonight.”
“We talk about military readiness; why on Earth are we not aiming our remarks at President Biden or at Secretary [Lloyd Austin]?” Lee said. “They all have the ability to end this.”
Sullivan, Graham, Young, and Ernst previously launched an effort to counter Tuberville’s hold at the start of the month, arguing the senator’s tactic is also hurting retention efforts. They stopped bringing new nominations to the floor once it was clear Senator Lee intended to essentially filibuster with half-hour-long speeches with each objection.
In his first speech early Thursday morning, Lee complained about Republicans buying into the administration’s narrative that effective leadership sabotaged the military.
“I can’t believe anybody buys this crap,” Lee said. “I really can’t — let alone anyone from the same party as Senator Tuberville.”
About the Author:
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
What are the consequences for the military and its members as the abortion policy debate continues
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Democrats, however, argue that Tuberville’s hold is a politically motivated move to hinder the Biden administration’s agenda. They argue that the Pentagon’s abortion policy is in line with the administration’s commitment to reproductive rights and healthcare access for all individuals, including servicemembers.
Efforts to confirm military nominees have been further complicated by the ongoing debate over abortion rights in the country. The issue has long been a divisive one, with Republicans advocating for stricter regulations and limitations, while Democrats push for expanded access and reproductive rights. The debate has intensified in recent months, as several conservative states have passed restrictive abortion laws, sparking nationwide protests and legal challenges.
The hold on military nominations by Republican senators highlights the increasingly polarizing nature of the abortion debate, as well as the broader political struggle over control of government institutions. With slim majorities in both the Senate and the House, each party is vying to maintain influence and exert pressure on policy decisions.
While the Pentagon’s abortion policy may not be directly related to military nominations, it has become a sticking point for Republican senators who view it as a departure from traditional conservative values and a violation of federal law. Their protest is an attempt to exert leverage and maintain control over military nominations, using their power as elected officials to push for policy changes.
As the debate continues, the future of military nominations remains uncertain. Tuberville’s hold, supported by other Republicans, has stalled the confirmation of hundreds of military promotions, creating a backlog that will need to be addressed. It remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached, or if the issue will continue to be mired in partisan politics and gridlock.
One thing is clear — the abortion policy of the Pentagon has become a battleground for Republican senators seeking to maintain their hold on military nominations. As the debate unfolds, the consequences for the military and its members hang in the balance, highlighting the complex interplay between politics, policy, and the armed forces.
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