Senator Tommy Tuberville Ends Military Promotion Blockade After Months of Stalling Military Leadership
"It's over," said Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, releasing his blockade on military promotions that began last February. The Republican senator had been blocking promotions and crippling military operations due to the lack of leadership across the various branches of the US military.
As Tuberville blocked hundreds of promotions, he left the Pentagon struggling to operate as the remaining heads lacked the authority to hire staff or occupy their offices as these positions needed senate confirmations. This resulted in intense criticism not just from the military and Democrats, but also from his fellow Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Yahoo! News reported that he was also criticized for his actions from his own home state of Alabama. A poll showed that 55% of people said he was hurting national security with his blockading of military promotions. Now, however, he finally relented after all the pressure to have him release his stranglehold on the military.
"It was pretty much a draw. I mean, they didn't get what they wanted, we didn't get what we wanted. [...] And so, just unfortunate the American people didn't get a voice," he said when asked about the results of his controversial blockade.
Tuberville started his blockade back in February as a protest against allowing abortions for military personnel. He claimed it was for the people but his actions were deeply unpopular and placed the US military in danger and woefully understaffed.
Hundreds of Military Personnel Promoted After Tommy Tuberville Lifted His Blockade
As soon as the Alabama Republican lifted his blockade, the Senate quickly approved hundreds of much-needed military promotions that have been stalled as a result of Tuberville's actions.
In a single stroke, the US Senate approved around 425 military promotions immediately after the Alabama senator let his military stranglehold go.
President Joe Biden sounded off shortly after the confirmations, according to the Associated Press. He said that these hundreds of promotions were long overdue and should have never been held up in the first place.
"In the end, this was all pointless. Senator Tuberville, and the Republicans who stood with him, needlessly hurt hundreds of servicemembers and military families and threatened our national security - all to push a partisan agenda. I hope no one forgets what he did," the president said in a statement.
Why Did Tommy Tuberville Hurt the Military With His Promotion Blockade?
Tuberville waged an "unprecedented campaign to try to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions," according to the Associated Press. This forced less-experienced leaders of the military into some of the top jobs, therefore sparking concerns about military readiness.
The vote on military promotions was tied up for months as the military lacked proper leadership at the time. Promotions were needed to fill spots left by military leaders who retired or were also promoted to higher positions. However, as Tuberville rejected every single nomination in protest of abortion, the military became more and more vulnerable thanks to the lack of leadership.
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Sen. Tommy Tuberville says he will lift blocking of military promotions - MSNBC