Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is continuing to block almost 200 military promotions because he opposes a recent DOD policy to provide time off and travel reimbursement for military families who need to travel to other states for reproductive health.
“One senator is personally standing in the way of promotions for 184 of our top-level military leaders,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Tuesday on the Senate floor. “One senator is holding up pay raises for men and women in uniform. One senator is blocking key senior military leaders from taking their posts. One senator is jeopardizing America’s national security.”
Tuberville said he warned DOD this would happen.
“I warned [Defense] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin that if he did this and changed this, I would put a hold on his highest-level nominees,” Tuberville said in a floor response to Warren. “Secretary Austin went through with the policy anyway in February of this year, so I am keeping my word,” he said.
Tuberville also said Tuesday that he thinks there are too many generals and admirals in the military, as Military.com reported.
It is unclear how the holdup will impact the nomination of Gen. Randy George to become the next Army Chief of Staff, as On Base reported.
DOD photo by Army Sgt. James K. McCann
