As attacks against Senator Tommy Tuberville escalated this week, the Alabama Republican appeared even more determined to undo the Biden administration’s recent policy allowing U.S. service members and their families to obtain taxpayer-funded abortions. Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Tuberville promised to stay “until hell freezes over” to ensure that military personnel and dependents will not be able to use their taxpayer funds for abortion.
“I am not going to be intimidated by a campaign of selective outrage,” Tuberville said. “I gave the Pentagon fair warning. They chose to go forward with this policy…This was the Biden administration’s choice. I’m keeping my word.”
Tuberville warned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in October to steer clear of a divisive abortion agenda at the Pentagon or face the prospect that military nominations wouldn’t receive a Senate confirmation vote. Austin ignored the warning, announcing Feb. 16 that the Defense Department would provide three weeks of paid leave and reimbursement of travel expenses for military personnel and dependents who are seeking an abortion.
Democrats have ramped up their attacks on Tuberville in recent weeks. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Senator Jack Reed, R-R.I., have both attempted to approve nearly 200 promotions for military generals and flag officers without a vote. Tuberville has refused to budge, stating that the Senate should fulfill its job and vote on the taxpayer-funded abortion issue and nominations.
GOP Senator Tuberville is blocking 180+ military promotions and putting U.S. security in jeopardy because he objects to women in the military accessing reproductive care
He's telling women in the military they're not allowed to make their own health care decisions
This is wrong
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 29, 2023
The Pentagon’s new policy could lead to a massive increase in the annual number of abortions from approximately 20 to more than 4,000, according to an estimate from the Rand Corp. study. Tuberville maintains it’s also illegal, violating a prohibition on taxpayer-funded abortions.
A survey in January conducted by the Marist Poll and commissioned by the Knights of Columbus revealed that 54% of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
In response to the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade, the Defense Department issued an Oct. 20 memorandum, “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” promising easier access to abortion for U.S. military personnel.
Sec. Austin claims military readiness is impacted by @SenTuberville's hold on military promotions. Not true. @genboykin: Current leadership positions are held over.
What is true? The DoD can resolve this: return to its original, lawful abortion policy. https://t.co/fdbxevNstM
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) March 29, 2023
Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is spearheading a separate effort to halt the new policy, along with 35 of her Senate Republican colleagues. “The Pentagon should not be mobilized against the unborn. The Department of Defense exists to defend life, not destroy it,” Ernst said.
Tuberville argued that Democrats should be more concerned with the 15,000 enlisted soldiers missing from last year’s recruiting class as a result of the Biden administration’s actions than the 184 generals’ promotions.
“Only one of those things threatens our security. It is not the officer promotions,” Tuberville said.
It’s clear that Senator Tuberville will not back down from his stand against the Biden administration’s politicization of the U.S. military and its pro-abortion agenda. The senator’s courage in standing up to the liberal agenda should be commended and supported by all Americans.
