Senate Republicans aim to challenge the Pentagon policy chief nominee in an effort to resolve the Tuberville deadlock.
Senate Republicans Push for Narrowing Hold on Pentagon Promotions
Senate Republicans are urging Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to narrow his hold on Pentagon promotions to civilian nominees, with the White House’s pick for policy chief as their top target.
Tuberville has been blocking the Senate from quickly approving hundreds of nominations since March in protest of the Pentagon’s decision to pay for the travel expenses of servicewomen seeking abortions.
Republicans strongly oppose the policy, which they view as a way to bypass the federal ban on taxpayer funding for abortions. However, they have grown frustrated with Tuberville’s tactics, arguing that they unfairly punish uniformed officers and their families who have no involvement in the decision.
On Wednesday night, tensions reached a boiling point as a group of Republican defense hawks attempted to break the logjam on the Senate floor, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), who led the protest, have also been engaged in less heated discussions with Tuberville to find a resolution to the impasse.
Tuberville has been offered a vote to reverse the policy, and there have been talks of lifting the holds for all but high-ranking nominees. However, the latest push is to end the blockade with one exception: the nomination of Derek Chollet, the White House’s choice for undersecretary of defense for policy.
Chollet’s nomination is yet to be approved by the Armed Services Committee, but if it is, Sullivan plans to place a hold on him. This move reflects a desire to shift the hold to administrative appointees, considering the position as tailor-made to Republicans’ opposition to the abortion policy.
“He is the No. 3 guy in the Pentagon, and he’s the undersecretary for policy. He is the exact guy we should put a hold on if you care about this issue,”
Sullivan, a reservist in the Marine Corps, told the Washington Examiner.
Senate Republicans have been discussing this idea since Chollet’s hearing, according to Ernst.
“The focus of holds should be on political nominees, not the men and women in uniform that have nothing to do with the policy,”
Ernst, a member of Senate GOP leadership who served in the Iowa National Guard, told the Washington Examiner. “So, we will be looking at this other nominee, again, a political civilian nominee, and we’ve offered to Coach to take this person and put a hold on this person and then let the military nominees go.”
Tuberville has rejected previous compromise attempts, insisting that the Pentagon must first reverse what he considers to be an unconstitutional policy.
This refusal puts Senate Republicans back at square one. While the conference could support a Democratic resolution to circumvent the blockade, there are not yet enough GOP votes for it to pass.
However, discussions among Senate Republicans suggest that the chamber may be heading in that direction given Tuberville’s unwavering stance.
Ernst and Sullivan intend to keep pressure on Tuberville, with Sullivan considering another marathon session on the Senate floor next week. Ernst has also collected signatures to force votes on two nominees caught up in Tuberville’s blockade.
The hope is that the pressure campaign, combined with the threat of being circumvented, will change Tuberville’s mind and open up several possible off-ramps. Another option still on the table is a vote to reverse the policy, although it would likely fail due to Democrats’ control of the chamber.
The conference plans to hold a lunch early next week to discuss a path forward.
Aside from the abortion policy, Senate Republicans were already disappointed with Chollet due to his role in the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan and his support for the Iran nuclear deal.
There is some hope among Republicans that Chollet’s hearing performance could jeopardize his nomination with Democrats, potentially giving Tuberville a face-saving win if he redirects his holds. However, this hope is purely speculative.
If Chollet advances out of committee, Senate Democrats could still schedule a vote on his nomination despite the hold, although it would slow down the consideration of the promotion.
Why is Derek Chollet being targeted as the top hold for Senate Republicans?
Derek Chollet, as the top target for our hold.”
This proposed shift in strategy could help alleviate the concerns of Senate Republicans while still sending a strong message about their opposition to the Pentagon’s policy. By targeting political nominees like Chollet, who have a direct role in shaping and implementing the policy, Republicans can maintain their stance without unfairly punishing uniformed officers and their families.
This impasse over Pentagon promotions has become a contentious issue within the Senate, pitting Republicans against one another. On one side, some see Tuberville’s hold as a necessary stand against what they believe is an improper use of taxpayer funds to support abortions. On the other side, Republicans are concerned about the unintended consequences of Tuberville’s tactics, particularly when it comes to delaying important nominations and hindering the efficiency of the Pentagon.
Sens. Ernst and Sullivan have been leading the charge to find a resolution to this impasse. Their proposal to narrow the hold to include only political nominees is a step towards finding common ground within their party. This approach recognizes the need to address their concerns about the policy, while also acknowledging the importance of promoting the smooth functioning of the Pentagon.
By focusing their hold on Chollet’s nomination, Senate Republicans are highlighting the specific role he would play in implementing the Pentagon’s policy. As the undersecretary of defense for policy, Chollet would have a significant influence on the decision-making process. Holding his nomination would send a clear message about their opposition to the policy, without causing undue harm to other officers and their families.
It is important to note that Chollet’s nomination has yet to be approved by the Armed Services Committee. If and when it moves forward, Sullivan plans to place a hold on him. This deliberate action shows the intention of Senate Republicans to strategically target nominees who are directly involved in the policy they oppose.
Overall, the proposed shift in strategy by Senate Republicans regarding Pentagon promotions is a sign of ongoing negotiations and attempts to find a resolution to this impasse. By narrowing their hold to political nominees like Derek Chollet, Republicans aim to address their concerns about the Pentagon’s policy while minimizing the negative impact on uniformed officers and their families. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether this approach will be successful in achieving a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
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