Schumer fast-tracks military nominees following Tuberville’s unexpected move.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Takes Action on Military Nominations Amid Standoff
In a bold move, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has set up votes on three crucial military nominations after facing pressure from Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to address a Pentagon abortion policy.
Announcing his decision on the Senate floor, Schumer declared, “Democrats are taking action” as he moved forward with the nominations for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Army chief of staff.
Majority Leader Schumer (D) says the Senate will vote on stalled military promotions individually:
“The Senate will overwhelmingly vote to confirm them… and the abortion policy that Sen. Tuberville abhors will remain in place. Sen. Tuberville will have accomplished nothing.” pic.twitter.com/zBxzcJrGkZ
— The Recount (@therecount) September 20, 2023
Asserting the importance of not allowing Senator Tuberville to dictate military promotions, Schumer emphasized, “We cannot allow Senator Tuberville to decide which of our brave service members get promoted and which languish.”
Schumer’s decision to file cloture on President Joe Biden’s military nominees comes after Tuberville gained support from GOP colleagues to force a procedural vote on Gen. Eric Smith’s nomination to become commandant of the Marine Corps, a position that has been vacant since July.
Tuberville, a former college football coach, celebrated Schumer’s announcement, stating, “One of us was bluffing. It wasn’t me. Democrats are taking the same action they could’ve taken months ago. As long as the Pentagon keeps the unlawful elective abortion policy in place, my holds will remain.”
One of us was bluffing. It wasn’t me.
Democrats are taking the same action they could’ve taken months ago. As long as the Pentagon keeps the unlawful elective abortion policy in place, my holds will remain. https://t.co/f497iygBDd
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) September 20, 2023
Since February, Tuberville has placed a “hold” on general and flag officer nominations to protest a Pentagon policy that he believes allows illegal elective abortions for female service members. He has objected to the Senate’s unanimous consent agreement, insisting that individual nominations should be voted on separately if necessary.
Despite pushback from the Biden administration and other lawmakers, Tuberville maintains that his actions are not detrimental to military readiness and argues that the Senate can still hold votes through regular order to approve individual nominations.
🚨Senator Schumer just proved he could have moved these military promotions months ago.
He held our servicemembers hostage for purely political reasons. pic.twitter.com/xJPpDr5P3h
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) September 20, 2023
According to the Department of Defense, hundreds of military confirmations have been delayed. A Congressional Research Service report estimates that it would take over 700 hours of work to individually confirm 273 nominations.
Reacting to Schumer’s actions, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) criticized the delay, stating, “Senator Schumer just proved he could have moved these military promotions months ago. He held our servicemembers hostage for purely political reasons.”
How has Senator Tuberville’s hold on nominations impacted the military’s leadership and decision-making?
Finally taking the same action they could’ve taken months ago. As long as the Pentagon keeps the unlawful elective abortion policy in place, my holds will remain. https://t.co/jUZhmZJKG7
— Senator Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) September 20, 2023
The standoff between Schumer and Tuberville began when Tuberville placed a hold on the nomination of Gen. Smith due to concerns over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Tuberville argued that the policy allowed for elective abortions at the expense of taxpayer money, which he found to be unacceptable.
In response, Schumer accused Tuberville of holding military promotions hostage and trying to politicize the nominations process. Schumer stated, “We cannot let Senator Tuberville play politics with our national security and the well-being of our service members.”
The Pentagon’s abortion policy, implemented under the Biden administration, allows for elective abortions for military service members and their dependents at government-funded military hospitals. Proponents of the policy argue that it provides necessary healthcare options for women in the military, while opponents believe it goes against their religious and moral beliefs and misuses taxpayer funds.
Schumer’s decision to bring the military nominations to a vote signals a departure from the previous stalemate. By moving forward with the nominations, he challenges Tuberville’s ability to block them in order to push for changes to the abortion policy.
The three positions up for confirmation represent critical leadership roles within the military. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the United States, responsible for advising the president and the secretary of defense on military matters. The commandant of the Marine Corps leads the Marine Corps and is responsible for organizing, equipping, and training Marines. The Army chief of staff is the highest-ranking officer in the United States Army and advises the secretary of the army and senior military leaders on Army operations and policies.
The delay in confirming these nominations has left key military positions vacant for an extended period, creating challenges for effective leadership and decision-making within the military branches. Schumer’s decision to move forward with these nominations aims to address this issue and ensure that the military has the necessary leadership to carry out its duties.
It remains to be seen how the votes on these nominations will unfold. With Schumer’s push for confirmation, it is likely that they will be approved by the Senate. However, the controversy surrounding the Pentagon’s abortion policy may still persist, indicating that the issue is far from resolved.
Schumer’s move to set up votes on the military nominations demonstrates his determination to navigate the political divide and prioritize the needs of the military. By taking action and challenging Tuberville’s hold, Schumer is making an effort to move the nominations process forward and ensure that the military has qualified leaders in place.
As the standoff continues, the focus remains on the future of the Pentagon’s abortion policy and its impact on military promotions. The outcome of the votes and the subsequent developments will shape the path forward and determine the extent to which politics can influence the military’s leadership and policies.
Regardless of the outcome, Schumer’s actions serve as a reminder of the critical role that political leaders play in shaping the direction of the military and ensuring its effectiveness and readiness. The nominations process serves as a microcosm of the broader political landscape, where decisions made in Washington have far-reaching consequences for those serving in the military and the nation as a whole.
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