Hundreds of nominees for military positions have been stalled as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., protests Pentagon abortion policy, and that total could swell to 650, the Pentagon says.
The Pentagon says there are 301 generals and admirals whose nominations have been placed in limbo because of an indefinite"hold" by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, who wants the military to change its policy of reimbursing service members for travel to get reproductive care, including abortions.
"The Department has 83 three- and four-star nominations pending for positions already vacated or due to rotate within the next 150 days," the Pentagon said in response to questions by reporters."Because of this blanket hold, for the first time in the history of the Department, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders. This is unprecedented, unnecessary and unsafe."The Navy, Army and Marine Corps are without top leaders because of the hold.
The Pentagon says a"small number" of service members are getting reimbursed for trips to get reproductive care, which includes travel for in vitro fertilization, but have yet to come up with any details. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made three calls to Tuberville, urging him to abandon the holds. One defense official tells NPR the conversations are short, with Tuberville asking if the Pentagon will abandon its policy. And members of the Senate have lashed out at Tuberville.
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