Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reasserted this week that he will not yield in his one-man movement to prevent U.S. taxpayer dollars from funding abortion on demand throughout the armed forces stationed around the country and worldwide. The crux of his argument is that Democrats prioritize abortion over national security.
In a candid interview with the Washington Examiner, Tuberville suggested that Democrats have remained staunch in supporting the Pentagon’s abortion policy, which shoulders the travel costs and time off for service members traveling out of state for an abortion. According to Tuberville, this position is purely strategic for the Democrats, as it bolsters their election chances. He firmly believes that for the Democrats, abortion is more integral to electoral success than military matters.
To be clear, I don't care if Senate Republicans break with me or not. I'm not dropping my holds until the policy is revoked.
The DOD should be worried about defending our nation instead of forcing the taxpayers to fund elective abortions. https://t.co/pinK0W6yDz
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) October 17, 2023
“They care more about abortion in this country, the Democrats do, than they do about national security,” the Alabama senator remarked. Highlighting his view on the Democrats’ electoral strategy, Tuberville later added, “That’s what they run on. Abortion is their No. 1 topic — it’s not foreign relations, it’s not the economy, it’s not the border, crime. They feel like they can win elections off abortion, so they just stick with it no matter what.”
This assertion takes root in Tuberville’s months-long hold on Pentagon confirmations. This move has caused bipartisan concern among establishment Democrats and neoconservative Republicans. The hold has affected over 300 general and flag officer nominations. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force have called for an end to the hold, indicating potential risks to national security and military readiness.
PLEASE hold me accountable for fighting against taxpayer funded abortion on demand that wasn't voted on by Congress. https://t.co/ne42qZTqnM
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) October 17, 2023
I didn’t start this.
The Biden Admin injected politics into the military and imposed an unlawful abortion policy on the American taxpayers.
I am trying to get politics out of the military.https://t.co/iejmIib9l4
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) October 17, 2023
Tuberville’s motive for this action is to overturn a Pentagon policy he believes jeopardizes national security. He has cited the option of reversing the policy, but Democrats, who dominate the Senate and the White House, remain defiant.
In addition to this, the situation in the Middle East has recently escalated. Despite the tension and the ongoing war in Israel, Tuberville has chosen not to lift his hold on military promotions. His office reiterated that this decision doesn’t impede U.S. readiness. “The Pentagon clearly thinks forcing taxpayers to facilitate abortion is more important than confirming their top nominees without a vote,” commented Tuberville spokesman Steve Stafford.
The senator’s stand is bold, especially considering recent events in Israel. The region is on edge with Hamas attacks against Israel and the subsequent retaliation. Despite the turmoil, Tuberville’s office remains assertive that the hold has no bearing on U.S. readiness or its support for allies. Emphasizing the senator’s stance, Stafford remarked, “He stands with the people of Israel and supports their right to defend themselves against these shameful and cowardly terrorist attacks.”
While establishment politicians view the senator’s actions as obstructionist, pro-life conservatives see it as a necessary stance to highlight what they believe are skewed priorities.
Sen. Tuberville has made his position abundantly clear. Now, the ball is in the court of the Democrats. Whether or not they choose to address his concerns remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. This debate underscores contemporary American politics’ complex interplay between social issues and national security.
