Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has faced criticism for opposing pro-life Senator Tommy Tuberville’s holds on military promotions. Tuberville has placed these holds due to President Joe Biden’s policy of using taxpayer funds to support abortion tourism for members of the military. Haley’s remarks siding with Biden conflicted with Tuberville’s pro-life stance. Meanwhile, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum criticized Biden’s abortion policy and its negative impact on military readiness.
Tuberville has been under fire from Democrats who argue that his actions are harming the military. However, Tuberville maintains that he is holding up the nominations to protest the Pentagon’s decision to implement the policy without congressional approval. He argues that the issue should be legislated through the proper channels, and if he believed that the delay in promotions affected military readiness, he would approach the situation differently. While the media and Democrats criticize Tuberville, he remains steadfast in his pro-life position.
Republicans in the House successfully added an amendment to a defense spending bill that blocks the use of taxpayer funds for abortion-related expenses and gender transition procedures. The amendment was praised by pro-life groups and it addresses the Biden administration’s policy of using Department of Defense funds for abortion travel, which violates existing laws. The Jackson Amendment in the NDAA clarifies federal law on the use of DOD funds for abortion and repeals the October 2022 memorandum permitting the use of funds for abortion travel.
The public consistently opposes using taxpayer funds for abortions, both domestically and internationally. Bans on taxpayer funding for elective abortions previously had bipartisan support in Congress, but in recent years, Democratic leaders have shifted their stance and now support taxpayer-funded abortions. The passage of the Jackson Amendment in the House represents a significant step in curbing the Biden administration’s funding for abortion and ensuring compliance with existing laws.