Three civilian US military leaders called on Senator Tommy Tuberville to drop his objection to senior military promotions over abortion policy, a stand they say is hurting national security.
(Bloomberg) — Three civilian US military leaders called on Senator Tommy Tuberville to drop his objection to senior military promotions over abortion policy, a stand they say is hurting national security.
Tuberville has blocked many military promotions for more than six months, insisting the defense department end a policy that allows personnel to travel for abortion care if it is unavailable where they are stationed.
“Placing a blanket hold on all general and flag officer nominees, who as apolitical officials have traditionally been exempt from the hold process, is unfair to these military leaders and their families,” Carlos Del Toro, the secretary of the Navy, Frank Kendall, the secretary of the Air Force and Christine Wormuth, the secretary of the Army, wrote in the Washington Post.
“And it is putting our national security at risk,” they said.
In July, President Joe Biden called on Republicans to break with the Alabama Republican over the issue.
Due to Tuberville’s blockade, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps do not have Senate-confirmed service chiefs leading those branches.
Tuberville has defended his stance, accusing Biden of trying to impose abortion policies on the military.
“I didn’t start this,” Tuberville said in a tweet on July 17, saying Biden “injected politics into our military and imposed taxpayer funding of abortion that nobody voted for. I am trying to get politics OUT of the military.”
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.