The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized his Republican colleague in the Senate for pressuring the Pentagon to change its abortion policy by blocking hundreds of military promotions.
“The idea that one man in the Senate can obstruct this for months—I would maybe understand it for promotions, but not for nominations,” McCaul explained. He added, “I think it’s a national security issue. And I really want him to reconsider.”
Tuberville’s campaign has led to less experienced leaders filling senior positions and has raised concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness. Defense officials accuse Tuberville of endangering national security. Senators from both parties, including Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have criticized Tuberville.
Tuberville refused to concede and said he would not let go of his hand until Democrats allowed a vote on the policy. Democrats argue that a vote on either nominee would keep the Senate busy for months, and they do not want to give in to Tuberville’s demands and thereby encourage similar deadlocks in the future.
McCaul said on CNN that the House of Representatives will debate the issue of military abortions as part of the defense spending bill passed by Congress. Meanwhile, he claimed, “Preventing military promotions, in my opinion, cripples our Department of Defense.”
