During discussions in the Senate this week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who herself is a veteran, ripped the political maneuvering from Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) that has led, for now, to scores of vacancies throughout the highest ranks of the U.S. military, though acting officials — meaning individuals temporarily taking on the role — are able to fulfill some of the responsibilities.
Tuberville has lodged objection after objection during the often mundane process of the Senate providing confirmation for military personnel picks, tying his opposition to the military’s support for service members seeking abortions and related care.
“For the first time in over 100 years, we do not have a commandant of the Marine Corps,” Duckworth said. “Someone who can have the full power and authority of a commandant. This is absolutely unacceptable. We have all of these officers and their families.” She subsequently discussed some of the impacts on military families amid Tuberville’s antics, including difficulties with meeting foundational needs. Their livelihoods are in limbo. “The entire military readiness is slowing grinding to a halt, and it is only going to get worse every single day because Senator Tuberville has injected politics into this,” she recapped.
She also noted the Defense Department isn’t directly providing abortions. Instead, what’s at issue is the Pentagon’s decision to make support available for service members seeking such care who may have costs like travel. The military isn’t directly covering the abortions, and the compensation for travel costs is directly in line with benefits that have been made available in numerous corporate environments. Should members of the military be subjected to a lower standard for their work environment than Americans at large?
Other Republicans in the Senate have expressed opposition to Tuberville’s decisions, but their opposition has not yet meant any change in the Alabaman’s actual approach. The Senate still has a more time-consuming option to confirm these military officials through other means, but it’s not clear they’d even have the time necessary to complete these tasks amid the broader agenda within a reasonable time frame. There is a precedent in the Senate of unanimous consent providing for the quick approval of key initiatives. Watch Duckworth below:
You have to watch all of this from @SenDuckworth on Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville’s continued blanket objection to confirming military promotions. pic.twitter.com/Uns3Ehexzu
— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) July 12, 2023
