This week, a group of Senate Republicans challenged Coach Tuberville’s protest of President Biden’s Pentagon policy that forces taxpayers to fund abortion travel by demanding he end his hold on military promotions. Despite some of his own colleagues standing against him, Coach refuses to budge. And he is right to do so. 

Before this year, service members could not expect the taxpayer to foot the bill for their abortion and travel expenses. But in February, without the constitutionally required approval of Congress, President Biden and Defense Secretary Austin decided service members can have up to three weeks of leave and paid travel expenses for abortions. This flies in the face of the 40-year precedent of the Hyde Amendment, a previously bipartisan supported policy that bars taxpayer-funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening complications. 

If Secretary Austin wants to make laws, he should run for Congress. And until this policy change has been approved by Congress, it is nothing more than a scheme using military members as pawns to skirt the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and gain political points with President Biden’s radical base. 

Biden, Secretary Austin, the Democrats, and now even some Republicans will complain that Tuberville’s holds are harming military readiness. They should remember that the Biden Administration could end this hold in a second by reversing their policy. Majority Leader Schumer held three votes on military promotions in September, and three more nominations were confirmed on November 2nd with Coach’s blessing, proving the only thing harming our readiness is Schumer’s desire to prioritize abortion and his political agenda.

The United States military has successfully defended us for more than 200 years without forcing taxpayers to fund the extinguishing of innocent life. The only people harming our national security are President Biden, Secretary Austin, and the Democrats, who are more interesting in playing a political game than defending our country. I continue to stand with Coach Tuberville, and I hope all my fellow Republicans will as well.

Congressman Barry Moore represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District