Senate approves backpay for military nominees whose promotions were stalled by Tuberville

Senate approves backpay for military nominees whose promotions were stalled by Tuberville

A bill that would grant back pay to the military officers whose promotions were held up for 10 months by Sen. Tommy Tuberville was approved by the Senate on Thursday, according to news reports.

“I just took to the Senate floor and passed a bill to send back pay to the military families hurt by Sen. Tuberville’s illogical, hurtful, dangerous holds…..These military families have already sacrificed so much,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., posted on X, the social media platform once known as Twitter.

“The Senate is giving them the justice—and back pay—they deserve,” Schumer posted.

“The bill, passed by unanimous consent before the Senate left for the week, was introduced by Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both members of the Armed Services Committee. Tuberville himself was among the first co-sponsors of the bipartisan bill,” Politico reported.

Tuberville began the blockade back in February in response to the Pentagon’s policy of allowing travel expenses to military members seeking abortions in states where it remains legal.

Republicans in the Senate grew more critical of the hold, saying it was affecting readiness.

Tuberville earlier this month relented saying he was “not going to hold the promotions of these people any longer.”

He allowed hundreds of promotions to move forward and only 11 four-star nominees’ confirmations are pending, USA Today reported.

“Rounds opposes the Pentagon policy on abortion Tuberville targeted that reimburses out-of-state travel for service members who receive abortions, but he said service members should not be caught in partisan politics,” that report stated.

“The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America should not be negatively impacted by political squabbles,” Rounds said in a statement.