Fellow Republican senators have criticized Tuberville’s strategy as a “mistake,” urging him to narrow his holds to Biden nominees who make policy decision and allow stalled nonpolitical military personnel to continue advancing in their careers.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voiced his misgivings about Tuberville’s aggressive tactics Tuesday.
“I think holding these non-policymaking career military [officials] who can’t be involved in politics at all is a mistake, and we continue to work on that and I hope at some point we can get it clear,” he told reporters.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the vice chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and ranking member of its defense subcommittee, urged Tuberville to limit his holds to policymaking positions.
“I’m very concerned about it and hope that Sen. Tuberville will reconsider and narrow his focus to only those individuals who have policy responsibilities,” Collins said.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved 273 promotions that are now stuck on the floor because of Tuberville’s hold, according to a Senate aide.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) warned over the weekend that Tuberville’s holds are “paralyzing the Department of Defense.”
“The idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months — I understand maybe promotions, but nominations,” McCaul said.
But Tuberville is standing firm and says he will only release the holds if the Biden administration reverses its policy of paying for service members to travel across state lines to obtain abortions.
The Alabama senator shook his head to indicate “no” when asked Tuesday whether he’s willing to negotiate a compromise with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin or the White House.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
