In a stark display of stalwart conservatism, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has been blocking military nominations as a potent protest against the Pentagon’s policies which have expanded access to abortions. Tuberville’s firm stand has been underway for four months. It could lead to a backlog of as many as 650 Pentagon nominees by year-end.
These actions from Tuberville emerge in direct response to the Pentagon’s current policy that circumvents existing abortion laws. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s removal of a constitutional right to abortion in reversing Roe v. Wade, the Pentagon’s policy has laid down a path for its personnel to access abortion services. This move, Tuberville argues, not only sidesteps the legislative process but also compels taxpayers to fund abortions involuntarily.
Follow the law or change the law. https://t.co/uPMPaUKSMT
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) June 16, 2023
“We’re talking about a policy that’s illegal. They changed it, they can’t do it. Let’s go back to the original policy,” Tuberville told reporters. He further advocated for policy changes to be made through the legislative process in Congress.
Despite the rising number of blocked nominations, Tuberville’s stand isn’t the final word. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) still holds the power to propose the nominations for a vote. However, it would require the laborious process of individual voting rather than batch voting, an effort Schumer has refrained from making thus far, effectively creating a standoff with no foreseeable end.
This deadlock has spurred appeals from National Security Council spokesman John Kirby for Republican Senate members to push Tuberville to lift his hold. However, Tuberville remains steadfast, refusing to budge and citing the complete lack of dialogue from Schumer, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) or the White House.
Tuberville’s approach has seen some support from within the ranks of the GOP. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) agreed to work alongside Tuberville to have Congress decide on the issue rather than leaving it to the Pentagon. This support provides a substantial buffer to Tuberville’s stance, hinting at the possibility of enduring resistance.
Tuberville has shown little interest in potential compromises. Despite an offer from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to vote on a bill she has presented which would nullify the Pentagon’s policy as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process, Tuberville stood his ground, seeking a clean, standalone vote on the issue.
Tuberville’s persistence signals an unwavering commitment to his conservative principles. Despite the escalating pressure from allies and adversaries alike, he has dared to stand alone against a policy he sees as illegal and overreaching.
