Top military leaders call on Tuberville to stop ‘dangerous’ holds on military nominations

Washington

 

Three of the nation's top military leaders warn in a Washington Post op-ed that was published Monday night that the months-long impasse between Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the Pentagon over the Pentagon's abortion care policy is "putting our national security at risk."

The op-ed, written by the secretaries of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, Carlos Del Toro, Christine Wormuth, and Frank Kendall, reflects the displeasure felt at the highest levels of the US military with regard to Tuberville's holds, which have been in place for six months. It is an unusual public intervention in a political dispute involving Congress.

Senators can express their opposition to a particular policy through a variety of legislative and oversight measures. They have the right to propose legislation, garner support for it, and pass it. It would be unfair to these military commanders and their families to impose a general hold on all nominations for general and flag officers, who traditionally have been exempt from the hold procedure because they are non-political authorities. And it is endangering the safety of our country," the leaders add.

The confirmation of more than 300 high-ranking military nominations has been postponed because to Tuberville of Alabama's opposition to the Pentagon's reimbursement of service members and their families for travel expenses incurred for abortion care. Due to Tuberville's position, three military services are now operating for the first time ever without a leader who has been confirmed by the Senate. In the Senate, one senator has the power to stall nominations or legislation.

Although there was a five-week recess in August, Senate Democrats have claimed that confirming each nominee individually would eat up crucial floor time. Tuesday marks the return of the Senate.

Without the replacements, the "foundation of America's enduring military advantage is actively being eroded" by Tuberville, and the holds also have "a domino effect upending the lives of our more junior officers, too," the leaders write.

They write, "We know officers who have incurred significant unexpected expenses and are facing genuine financial stress because they have had to relocate their families or unpredictably maintain two residences." Military wives who have labored to establish their own careers are unable to look for work because they are unsure about their future plans. Given how frequently military kids currently switch schools, it has been difficult for kids to predict where they will attend school.

"We believe that the overwhelming majority of senators and Americans across the political spectrum recognize the stakes of this moment and the dangers of politicizing our military leaders," the op-ed ends. It is time to release this risky hold and confirm our top military officials.

Tuberville claims that the Pentagon's reproductive health regulations, which include, among other things, a travel stipend for troops and their families who must travel because of state laws where they are stationed in order to have an abortion, violate the law. The policies are legal, according to a Justice Department document, according to Pentagon sources.

Despite growing public outcry, Tuberville has maintained the holds that started in March.

In July, active-duty military spouses personally delivered a petition signed by hundreds of military family members to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Tuberville. The petition stated that the military family members were "deeply concerned and personally impacted by Senator Tuberville blocking confirmation of senior military leaders."

More than 600 military officers will be up for nomination before the end of the year, including Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, who has been proposed by President Joe Biden to succeed Army Gen. Mark Milley as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The commandant of the Marine Corps, the chief of staff of the Army, and other officials are in an acting capacity. As an example, the Missile Defense Agency is now being directed by a one-star general in an acting capacity, despite the job generally being held by a three-star general. In other circumstances, the officer temporarily filling the role is lower ranking than the officer who was nominated to occupy the position.