Rep. McCaul Condemns Sen. Tuberville’s “Paralyzing” Hold on Hundreds of Military Promotions, Calling it a “National Security Problem

The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, has condemned Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s ongoing hold on hundreds of military promotions. Rep. McCaul called the hold a “paralyzing” move that amounts to a “national security problem” in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Sen. Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months over his objection to a Defense Department policy that provides paid time off and reimburses travel costs for service members to get an abortion in another state.

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley also weighed in on the issue, calling the policy “a national security problem” and “a national security issue” in her interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. Haley said the Department of Defense “never should have done” the policy and promised to put an end to it if she is elected president.

Rep. McCaul said that the hold on military promotions is “paralyzing the Department of Defense,” and that it is unacceptable for “one man in the Senate” to be able to hold up the process for months. He also said that any changes to the policy should go through Congress.

The hold on military promotions has been ongoing for months, and it remains to be seen when the issue will be resolved. In the meantime, the Defense Department is unable to move forward with hundreds of promotions, creating a national security issue.