House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has criticized the months-long blockade of Sen. Tommy Tuberville against more than 300 military promotions and nominations, warned that the hold-up is “crippling” the Pentagon’s military readiness.
“The idea that a guy in the Senate could hold this thing up for months — I understand maybe a promotion, but a nomination — is crippling to the Department of Defense,” McCaul (R-Texas) told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“I think that’s a national security problem and a national security issue.”
Since February, Tuberville (R-Ala.) has repeatedly objected to holding fast Senate confirmation votes for all Pentagon appointees, including nominees for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the next leaders of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
Michael McCaul is widely considered one of the leading Republican voices on foreign policy in the House.AP
An estimated 300 military promotions have been blocked due to detention.AP
The former college football coach had started the sit-in to protest the Pentagon’s policy of footing the bill for service members who travel overseas to receive any type of reproductive care, such as abortion or in-vitro fertilization.
The policy was instituted following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court last year.
House Republicans have tried to overturn the Pentagon’s policy, but so far have been unsuccessful.
McCaul noted that the issue is being discussed during negotiations on the annual defense spending bill, which must be passed by September 30.
Tommy Tuberville has drawn bipartisan backlash over his continued hold on military promotions.AP
“To hold the top brass from being promoted — and the lower brass — I think is crippling our Department of Defense,” he added.
A spokesman for Tuberville ripped McCaul’s characterization of the situation as “inaccurate.”
“No one can stop [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer [D-NY] from holding a vote on this nomination. He just didn’t want to,” Steven Stafford said in a statement.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has urged Tuberville to end the embargo. AP
“It is also not accurate because acting officers are in all these roles. In some cases, these acting officers are candidates for permanent positions. There are no jobs open or canceled now.”
Although the Senate can confirm each nominee by ordinary order, critics of Tuberville’s holding say it is unnecessary to hold a roll call vote for nominations that do not face serious opposition.
McCaul isn’t the only Republican to take issue with Tuberville’s actions, as 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have also criticized the Alabama senator.
The Alabama senator shows no signs of backing down.AP
Others, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have expressed support for Tuberville’s opposition.
The White House and top military officials have denounced the restrictions, but Schumer has shown no sign of relenting.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
