VFW Warns Tommy Tuberville Against Blocking Promotions

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama faces growing condemnation for his “control” over military promotions and appointments, which a veterans group says would set a “dangerous precedent” of using U.S. service members as political pawns.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the nation’s largest and oldest veterans service organization with more than 1.5 million members, sent a letter Monday to Tuberville, the calling for it to “lift its hold on routine promotion.” military generals and general officers.

VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento also took aim at Tuberville, saying in a statement that the Republican’s actions “will take years to correct.”

“The line for the VFW is simple: Political conflicts must be handled by politicians, not the ranks of the all-volunteer force,” Sarmiento said. “Senator Tuberville’s hold on these routine promotions has consequences within the active duty forces that will take years to correct. By sending this letter, the VFW is making our voice very clear: this is not the way Congress should conduct its business.”

News week contacted Tuberville and VFW representatives via email Monday evening for comment.

Growing criticism has been leveled at Tuberville as he continues his months-long block on promotions and appointments within the Department of Defense (DoD). The Republican previously said his opposition was aimed at protesting the Pentagon’s policy on abortion access for the military.

Tuberville said the Pentagon’s abortion policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion except in cases where the procedure would save the mother’s life or in cases of incest or rape.

Tuberville’s actions were condemned by Pentagon officials and President Joe Biden as well as the senator’s colleagues on the Armed Services Committee. Confirmation of military appointments requires a unanimous vote of all committee members, giving Tuberville veto power. The senator’s opponents say he is endangering national security and punishing military families by blocking hundreds of promotions.

VFW had a warning for Tuberville in the letter to the senator, saying the Republican’s “restraint” on military promotions would have “far-reaching consequences,” wrote Ryan Gallucci, executive director of the VFW’s Washington office.

“I am writing to ask you to lift your hold on the customary promotion of American military generals and general officers,” Gallucci said. “One of the VFW’s top national security priorities is preserving an all-volunteer force. In an era of military recruiting challenges, the instability caused by this take will have far-reaching consequences for the brave Americans who volunteer to serve in today’s military and for those The VFW called on the Senate to resolve this issue earlier this summer and now we are directly asking you to end this suspension before setting a very dangerous precedent consisting of harming the American military as leverage in political battles in Washington.”

Sarmiento said that as of Monday, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps had no confirmed service chiefs, in addition to “hundreds” of other routine promotions that were also blocked due to Tuberville’s refusal to allow confirmations without “unnecessary bureaucracy”. procedures.”