Pentagon asks Congress to lift lone senator’s hold on military promotions.

Pentagon Urges Senate to Resolve Impasse on Military Promotions and Nominations

Background

The U.S. Senate approves thousands of civilian and military nominations annually, but an indefinite hold has been placed on top military promotions and nominations due to objections to the Pentagon’s new abortion policy. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has blocked hundreds of promotions and nominations since February, arguing that federal funding should not cover abortion procedures except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk. This has led to a hold that has put 196 military nominations pending in the Senate.

The Urgency

In a letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on May 5, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin detailed the impact of the hold on the military. He urged the Senate to resolve the situation swiftly to limit the “serious consequences” that he outlined in the letter. Austin warned that the hold “harms America’s national security and hinders the Pentagon’s normal operations.” He also stated that the breakdown of the normal flow of leadership across the Department’s carefully cultivated promotion and transition system will breed uncertainty and confusion across the US military.

The Impact

The Pentagon currently has 64 three- and four-star nominations for top positions that will become empty “within the next 120 days.” These positions include the chief of staff of the Army, the chief of naval operations, the commandant and assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, the director of the National Security Agency, the commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, and the commander of the U.S. Northern Command. The Pentagon projects that approximately “650 general and flag officers will require Senate confirmation” by the end of the year. Without these leaders in place, the U.S. military will incur an unnecessary and unprecedented degree of risk at a moment when our adversaries may seek to test our resolve.

The Call to Action

Senator Warren’s office has stated that Tuberville’s hold “poses a clear risk to military readiness and harms national security.” The Defense Secretary has made it clear that Senate Republicans are harming American national security by treating military families as political footballs. The U.S. servicemembers have earned their promotions, and if the Senator from Alabama continues this destabilizing and irresponsible inaction, Tuberville is knowingly endangering military readiness and putting our troops at risk. It is imperative that the Senate resolves this impasse as swiftly as possible to limit the serious consequences that could arise from this hold.

Takeaway

The current impasse on top military promotions and nominations is a matter of national security. The breakdown of the normal flow of leadership across the Department’s carefully cultivated promotion and transition system will breed uncertainty and confusion across the US military. It is imperative that the Senate resolves this impasse as swiftly as possible to limit the serious consequences that could arise from this hold.