Senate Democrats are trying a novel strategy to break Senator Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of senior military promotions, as pressure builds among his fellow Republicans and Defense Department officials to end his monthslong hold in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion access policies.
Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said on Wednesday that he would seek to temporarily go around the chamber’s rules to allow confirmation of almost all military nominees as a bloc.
A vote could take place as soon as next week.
That would restore what had been routine practice in the Senate before Mr. Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, in February held up a package of officer promotions over a Pentagon policy offering time off and travel reimbursement to service members seeking abortions or fertility care.
While it is not clear that Mr. Schumer will have the support for his maneuver, he announced he would attempt it amid mounting frustration among Republicans and at the Defense Department about Mr. Tuberville’s nine-month blockade.
Persons:
Tommy Tuberville’s, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville, Schumer, Tuberville’s
Organizations:
Republicans, Defense Department, Alabama Republican, Mr
Locations:
New York, Alabama