Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday in an attempt to get his help to end what they described as Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) “reckless, dangerous” hold on military nominations.
The letter, from Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) , and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), calls on McConnell to “exercise your leadership to protect the readiness of our military.”
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Tuberville’s hold, which has been going on for months, has now grown to nearly 300 roles over his objection to the Defense Department's abortion policy. Tuberville says he believes the policy, put in place in response to the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade last year, is a violation of a federal law that limits federal funding of abortions to cases of rape, incest, or threats to the life of the mother. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has estimated that by the end of the year, roughly 650 officers will require Senate confirmation if the hold continues.
“In the coming months, more than half of the current Joint Chiefs are required to vacate their posts, and due to Senator Tuberville’s stonewalling, they’ll do so without a Senate-approved successor in place,” the lawmakers wrote. “During this time of heightened global tensions, failing to fill these critical positions is not only imprudent but risks our national security.”
“We know you share our concerns about the consequences of this hold on our Armed Services, and as the leader of your conference, we urge you to take stronger action to resolve this situation,” the senators added.
In early May, McConnell broke with the Alabama senator’s blanket military holds to protest the Pentagon’s abortion policy, saying he did not support Tuberville’s moves.
“I don't support putting a hold on military nominations. I don’t support that. As to why, you need to ask Sen. Tuberville,” McConnell said in response to a question from a reporter at a press conference at the time.
McConnell’s press secretary, Doug Andres, tweeted, “Did Democrats forget they’re in the majority and control the floor?”
The backlog of Pentagon nominees is typically approved without objection, usually in batches. Tuberville lacks the power to block the promotions entirely — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) can still put them up for a vote — but the hold basically forces him to do so one by one, eating up valuable floor time.
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Previously, Schumer has refused to take that step, believing it could signal to other senators they can use holds as leverage, but he recently signaled he could be open to the possibility of eating up some of the August recess. Last week, the majority leader also said he would consider giving Tuberville a stand-alone vote affirming the Pentagon’s policy. This has been the only way Tuberville has said he’ll relent.
“If he wants to have an affirmative vote, we would not object to it,” Schumer said during a press conference last week on Wednesday.“Tuberville said he wanted a vote; we’ll see what happens. The bottom line is it’s up to the Republican leadership.”