CV NEWS FEED // A lone senator is blocking many high-profile military appointments in response to a recent Department of Defense policy that illegally uses tax-payer money to pay for abortions in U.S. military facilities.
In February, the Defense Department published a new policy that offers paid leave and travel reimbursement to service members in pro-life states who want to travel to pro-abortion states in order to abort their unborn children. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pushed for the new policy after receiving a request from President Joe Biden. The new policy went into effect on March 18.
In response, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-AL, began blocking confirmations to senior Pentagon posts. Tuberville is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He and other Republicans called out the new policy for violating the 1977 Hyde amendment, which has prohibited taxpayer funding for most abortions for nearly five decades. A recent survey found that 60% of Americans believe the government should not use taxpayer money to fund abortions.
While some other Republicans backed away from the fight, Tuberville used his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee to block appointments.
The committee must approve all military and defense department appointments, considering around 50,000 civilian and military nominations a year. Through his position, Tuberville is able to place a hold on all nominations.
Usually, the appointment process is straightforward. However, as Tuberville continues with his tactic, each confirmation has to be conducted individually on the Senate floor.
The strategy is working. Democrats are furious over the blockade and being forced to resort to taking each of their nominations through lengthy regular Senate hearings, consuming valuable floor time.
When asked about Tuberville’s stand, Biden said “It’s just bizarre. I don’t remember it happening before, and I’ve been around.”
White House Press Secretary Karin Jeanne Pierre fired her own criticism at Tuberville, calling his actions “shameful” in a recent press conference.
“He is risking our military readiness by depriving our armed forces of leadership,” she said.
Tuberville is even receiving friendly fire from some Republican colleagues.
“I don’t support putting a hold on military nominations,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY.
Despite facing fierce resistance, Tuberville has stood strong, halting over 200 senior defense department appointments.
Tuberville told CatholicVote in an interview:
If I thought it put anybody in harm’s way, I wouldn’t be doing this because we do need a military. But because a lot of these things that this administration is doing, not just in this abortion situation, but also the vaccine mandates … what they’re doing is actually hurting our country, not helping our country.
As Tuberville’s war against “woke” enters its fourth month, conservative commentators and allies are calling on other pro-life leaders to support Tuberville in his fight.
“The question is not why Tuberville is taking this stand, but why he’s taking it with so few allies,” wrote Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation. “In this crucial and winnable fight to protect all Americans, born and unborn, every pro-life senator should join Tuberville’s team.”
