Senate Republicans Engage in Hours-Long Standoff with Tommy Tuberville over Pentagon Blockade

Frustrated Republican senators spent hours on Wednesday evening attempting to confirm military officers up for promotions, resulting in an escalated feud with fellow Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Several GOP senators took turns over more than four hours to confirm 61 promotions individually through unanimous consent. This forced Mr. Tuberville to remain on the Senate floor late into the night to object.

The tension during this episode highlighted the growing frustration, even among GOP colleagues, with Mr. Tuberville.

For almost 10 months, the Alabama Republican has protested a Pentagon abortion policy by blocking all military promotions, totaling nearly 400, that would otherwise be confirmed without any issues.

The Republicans who called for the confirmations showed visible anger, with Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, at times shouting.

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

Mr. Tuberville has suggested that Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer could bypass his blockade by holding roll call votes on each nominee. However, the New York Democrat has largely refused to use this process as it would consume 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 of Iowa, 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, had confirmation requests that were objected to by Mr. Tuberville.

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

Despite repeated warnings from the Defense Department that his blocking of senior-level promotions jeopardizes the health of military officers and national security, Mr. Tuberville dismissed the accusations, stating that they’re looking for someone to blame other than themselves.

The Pentagon policy under the Biden administration provides funding for 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 believe that blocking nominees who have no connection to it hampers the U.S. military.

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

• Mike Glenn contributed to this report.

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