A group of eight senators are urging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to use his authority to end U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s military holds.
The group, led by Armed Services Committee member U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), sent a letter to McConnell calling Tuberville’s actions a threat to military readiness.
I'm leading my colleagues in urging Mitch McConnell to help end Sen. Tuberville's reckless hold on more than 260 military promotions.
During this time of heightened global tensions, failing to fill these critical positions is not only imprudent but risks our national security. pic.twitter.com/1MUOBkBKpq
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) July 24, 2023
“We write you today to share our deep concern for the stability of our Armed Services and national security and call on you to exercise your leadership to protect the readiness of our military,” the lawmakers said. “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.”
Tuberville (R-Auburn) has placed a hold on Pentagon general and flag officer promotions due to the Department of Defense’s decision to pay for abortion-related expenses for servicemembers using taxpayer dollars.
“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 letter continues. “During this time of heightened global tensions, failing to fill these critical positions is not only imprudent but risks our national security.”
McConnell has said he doesn’t support Tuberville in this effort.
“No, I don’t support putting a hold on military nominations,” McConnell said. “I don’t support that. But as to why, you’ll have to ask Sen. Tuberville.”
The lawmakers now believe McConnell should do more than just talk about his disagreements with Tuberville.
“As the leader of the Republican conference,” they said in the letter, “we count on your to hold your colleagues accountable when they recklessly cross boundaries and upend Senatorial order. Senator Tuberville’s continuation of this stalemate is reckless, dangerous, and must end.”
Tuberville has said he would end the holds if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer allowed a stand-alone vote on the Pentagon’s abortion policy, which Schumer suggested recently he might be willing to do.
“If he wants to have an affirmative vote, we would not object to it,” Schumer said. “Tuberville said he wanted a vote; we’ll see what happens. The bottom line is it’s up to the Republican leadership. … They are risking our security, and it’s up to them to fix it.”
In addition to Hirono, the letter was also signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Angus King (I-Maine).
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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