Ex-Defense Secretaries Criticizing Tuberville’s Pentagon Abortion Policy Tied to Military-Industrial Complex

Former Defense Secretaries Accused of Ties⁣ to Military-Industrial Complex

Alabama Sen. ⁢Tommy Tuberville has come ‍under fire from⁢ former secretaries ‍of defense for his opposition to President Biden’s military nominees and the Pentagon’s abortion ⁢policy. However, a conservative government watchdog group has revealed that‍ these former secretaries have significant connections to‍ America’s military-industrial complex.

In a letter published in May, seven former Defense secretaries criticized Tuberville’s actions, claiming that his protest of the​ Pentagon’s use of ‌taxpayer money for abortions was “irresponsible” and ​could politicize military officers. The signatories of the‍ letter included James Mattis, Mark Esper,​ Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, Robert Gates, William Cohen,⁢ and William Perry.

American Accountability Foundation‌ (AAF) recently uncovered that these same⁤ former ⁣Defense secretaries now hold positions with major U.S. ⁢defense‍ contractors ​and related ventures. For​ example, Leon Panetta has been a‍ senior counselor for Beacon Global Strategies LLC since 2014. Beacon Global is a strategic‍ advisory firm specializing in defense and homeland security.

Chuck Hagel serves on ⁤the RAND Corporation Board of Trustees, a nonprofit‌ organization that conducts research and analysis in⁢ various areas, ⁤including national security and terrorism.

Even Republican-appointed defense secretaries have become involved in the military-industrial complex. James Mattis now serves on the Board ⁣of Directors for General Dynamics ⁤Corporation, a major defense ‍contractor. Mark Esper, a former executive at Raytheon, has ​ties to several defense-related entities, including Epirus, Cobham Advanced Electronics Systems,​ and Red Cell Partners.

AAF’s investigation also revealed that Robert Gates, William Cohen, and William Perry, who served as defense secretaries under different administrations, also​ have connections to the military-industrial complex.

Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, ​including RealClearPolitics,‌ RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow ‍him on ‍Twitter @ShawnFleetwood