GOP Struggles to Break Sen. Tuberville's Blockade on Military Promotions Amid Pentagon Abortion Policy Protest

Sen. Tuberville's eight-month protest against Pentagon's abortion policy stalls over 400 military promotions, despite mounting GOP frustration and efforts to negotiate a solution.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has blocked over 400 military promotions for eight months in a protest against the Pentagon's abortion policy.
Tuberville has indicated he will lift his holds if the Pentagon rescinds its abortion policy, if a repeal of the policy is included in the National Defense Authorization Act, private funds are used to pay for service members' travel, or individual roll call votes continue to confirm promotions.
Senate Republicans held a meeting to try and resolve the blockade, but no immediate solution was identified. There has been mounting frustration within the GOP ranks due to this blockade.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) offered a resolution to change Senate procedure allowing nominations to move as a bloc rather than individually, but this resolution is viewed as a last resort solution and disapproved by many senators as it could disempower individual senators.
The blockade affects military readiness, impacting, among others, the nomination of the commander of the Navy’s 5th Fleet.