Tuberville: Biden’s Joint Chiefs nominee will face promotion hold.

Senator Tuberville Blocks Senior Military Promotions Over Abortion Policy

Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) hold on senior military promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s new abortion policy will apply to the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Brown, Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, his spokesman told the Washington Examiner.

Senator Tuberville has blocked the nominations of over 200 general and flag officers due to the Pentagon’s new abortion policy. The policy pays for the travel costs and time off of service members who must travel out of state to receive an abortion due to restrictive laws. The Defense Department enacted the rule last year in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed nationwide abortion access for nearly half a century.

Bipartisan Support for Gen. Brown’s Nomination

Despite the hold, President Joe Biden announced the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Brown, Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The nomination has received bipartisan support, including from Senator Tuberville, who “has a great deal of respect for” the Air Force general. However, the senator’s spokesman confirmed that “the hold applies to all two-stars and above.”

While Senator Tuberville lacks the power to permanently block the nominees, he can significantly delay their confirmations. This has sparked bipartisan concern over the implications of leaving so many high-level positions unfilled. Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has distanced himself from Tuberville’s actions, stating that he does not support putting a hold on military nominations.

Pushing Brown’s Nomination Through the Chamber

With Gen. Mark Milley’s term not ending until October, the Senate will need all the time it can get to push Brown’s nomination through the chamber. Tuberville’s spokesman pointed to Milley’s 2019 confirmation process, noting that the Joint Chiefs chairman was approved by an up-or-down roll-call vote. Brown’s nomination to the post could be voted on in the same way, meaning the Air Force general would be approved regardless of the opposition from one senator.

Historical Precedent

“Everyone is acting like we would UC this nomination,” the spokesman said. “I don’t think that’s the historical precedent.”

• Sen. Tommy Tuberville has blocked the nominations of over 200 general and flag officers due to the Pentagon’s new abortion policy.
• The policy pays for the travel costs and time off of service members who must travel out of state to receive an abortion due to restrictive laws.
• The Defense Department enacted the rule last year in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
• President Joe Biden announced the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Brown, Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• The nomination has received bipartisan support, including from Senator Tuberville.
• Senator Tuberville can significantly delay the confirmations of the nominees.
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has distanced himself from Tuberville’s actions.
• The Senate will need all the time it can get to push Brown’s nomination through the chamber.
• Brown’s nomination to the post could be voted on in the same way as Gen. Mark Milley’s 2019 confirmation process.

Read more from the Washington Examiner here.