Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of senior military promotions has been criticized by military leaders, who accuse him of "aiding and abetting communists" and warn of negative impacts on combat readiness and the perception of the United States by potential adversaries.
Pentagon leaders are intensifying their campaign to pressure Senator Tommy Tuberville into releasing a nine-month hold on senior military nominations, which they argue is harming national security and aiding autocratic regimes.
CNN's senior political analyst John Avlon criticizes Sen. Tommy Tuberville's decision to hold on to approximately 300 military nominations, deeming it a risk to national security and America's readiness.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, a first-term Republican from Alabama, has single-handedly put a hold on the promotions and nominations of senior U.S. military officers for the past seven months, causing significant disruptions and undermining national security, all in an effort to oppose the Defense Department's policy of paying for female military personnel to travel across state lines for legal abortions.
The Biden administration accuses Sen. Tommy Tuberville of jeopardizing national security with his holds on military nominations, but refuses to consider allowing some to proceed on a case-by-case basis.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is calling on her Democratic colleagues to increase pressure on Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is blocking military promotions due to the Pentagon's abortion policies.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul criticizes Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockage of military nominations, stating that it is paralyzing the Department of Defense and hindering military readiness.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley criticizes Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade on military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy, calling it a "mistake" and accusing him of harming military families.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is being criticized for attempting to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up military nominations and promotions, which is seen as paralyzing the Department of Defense and posing a national security issue.
Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military officer promotions in protest of Pentagon policies would require approximately 700 hours of floor time for the Senate to process and vote on each nominee individually, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Senate Republicans are urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to vote on President Biden's military nominations despite Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on nominations and promotions, which is in protest of the Pentagon's new abortion policy.
Former Vice President Mike Pence commends Senator Tommy Tuberville for blocking military appointments in response to the Pentagon's controversial abortion policy, stating that the Pentagon should stand down and that he will remove "woke business" from the military if elected President.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and fellow GOP senators may force a procedural vote on the Marine Corps commandant nominee in a breach of Senate protocol to break the Senate's gridlock on stalled military nominees and shift the blame onto Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Senator Tommy Tuberville plans to break his blockade of military promotions by forcing a vote to appoint a new Marine Commandant, preventing over 300 officers from being promoted this year.
The Senate approved the nominations of Gen. Randy A. George as Army chief of staff and Eric M. Smith as commandant of the Marine Corps, overcoming Sen. Tommy Tuberville's obstruction of senior military officer promotions due to a dispute over a Pentagon abortion policy.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military promotions has led to the Senate approving only three out of over 300 nominations, leaving the future of many top defense officials uncertain.