A leading House Republican said Sunday that Sen. Tommy Tuberville is “paralyzing the Department of Defense” with his hold on military nominations and promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Rep. Michael McCaul not only criticized Mr. Tuberville but also took aim at the idea that any single senator can block Pentagon personnel moves indefinitely.
“This is paralyzing the Department of Defense, the idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months,” said Mr. McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “I understand promotions, but nominations is paralyzing the Department of Defense. I think that is a national security problem and a national security issue. I really wish he would reconsider this.”
Mr. Tuberville’s hold is blocking hundreds of Pentagon nominees from Senate confirmation votes and is keeping other officials from being promoted. The tactic is affecting the highest levels of the military, with services such as the Marine Corps now being led by acting commanders rather than permanent, Senate-confirmed officials.
The nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, on track to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when current Chairman Army Gen. Mark A. Milley retires this month, could also be held up.
Mr. Tuberville, Alabama Republican, is objecting to the Defense Department’s abortion policy, which offers paid time off and financial reimbursement for service members who travel out of state for abortions. It was implemented last year following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
SEE ALSO: Nikki Haley: Tuberville’s military hold using service families as ‘political pawns’
He argues that any Pentagon nominee can still be moved forward through an individual debate and floor vote, rather than the Senate’s traditional practice of advancing batches of nominees at once through a simple voice vote.
“If we’re not going to vote on taxpayer-funded abortion, then let’s vote on these nominees. Voting is our job. It’s not too much to ask of the United States Senate to do its job — to vote,” Mr. Tuberville said on the Senate floor earlier this year.
The Democrat-controlled Senate so far has appeared unwilling to budge and adjust its typical method of approving Pentagon nominees.
Amid the monthslong standoff, Pentagon officials have gotten more direct in their criticism of Mr. Tuberville.
“America’s defenders need defending too. Six months & counting, the hold on America’s senior military has set a damaging precedent that will live long past any policy differences of today,” Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said in a social media post last week. “This attempt to erode our military — a critical, apolitical pillar of our Republic — simply can’t be justified.”
In his CNN interview, Mr. McCaul suggested that it’s up to his party to reach some sort of deal with Mr. Tuberville. The Texas Republican said the issue ultimately will be resolved as part of negotiations over the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill that sets Pentagon funding levels.
“I really wish he would reconsider this,” Mr. McCaul said of Mr. Tuberville. “Because we’re working this issue out in the National Defense Authorization [Act]. We worked it out on the House side. We’re going to conference in the Senate. We’re going to work out this abortion issue. … But to hold up the top brass from being promoted, and lower brass, I think is paralyzing our Department of Defense.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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