Senate Republicans revolt against Tommy Tuberville’s Pentagon blockade in hours-long standoff

Frustrated Republican senators spent hours Wednesday evening on the chamber floor trying to confirm dozens of military officers up for promotions, escalating a monthslong feud with fellow Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Several GOP senators took shifts over the course of more than four hours attempting to confirm 61 promotions one-by-one via unanimous consent, forcing Mr. Tuberville to remain on the Senate floor to object late into the night.

The tense episode underscored the mounting irritation — even among GOP colleagues — with Mr. Tuberville.

For nearly 10 months, the Alabama Republican has protested a Pentagon abortion policy by holding a blanket blockade against all military promotions — nearly 400 to date — that would otherwise be confirmed without fanfare.

The Republicans who called for the confirmations were visibly infuriated, with Sen. Dan Sullivan, Alaska Republican, at times shouting.

“This is not a joke,” said Mr. Sullivan, a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. “You’re watching the experience of America’s greatest military generation since probably World War II flushing down river.”

Mr. Tuberville has said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer could sidestep his blockade by holding roll call votes on each nominee, a process that the New York Democrat has largely refused to use because it would eat up months of floor time.

“Bringing the nominees individually to the floor of the United States Senate to be voted on, I anticipated that a man of his word would honor his word,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican and also a combat veteran. “This was not time wasted tonight. I will do this all over again.”

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Todd Young of Indiana, who are also veterans, also sought confirmation requests to which Mr. Tuberville objected.

Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Schumer moved forward under pressure to tee up confirmation votes for President Biden’s nominees for top posts in the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. He also hopes to circumvent other holds from Mr. Tuberville with a temporary rule change to allow for a vote en bloc on a large group of second-tier military assignments, a move that would require the support of at least nine Republicans.

Mr. Tuberville dismissed to reporters Wednesday accusations that his block on senior-level promotions have jeopardized the health of military officers and U.S. national security despite repeated warnings from the Defense Department.

“They’re really looking for something to blame it on other than themselves. They could have had all these people confirmed if they had just gone with the Constitution,” Mr. Tuberville said. “They’re just looking for any possible way to get themselves out of a jam.”

The Biden administration’s Pentagon policy funds travel and expenses for service members who go to other states for abortions, a move that Mr. Tuberville argues is illegal.

Mr. Tuberville‘s Republican critics disagree with the policy but say blocking nominees who have no connection to it is kneecapping the U.S. military.

In a heated exchange, Mr. Graham at one point responded to Mr. Tuberville: “If you think it’s illegal, go to court!”