Nikki Haley Criticizes Sen. Tuberville Over Military Holds, Calls It a Mistake

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a prominent figure in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, has voiced criticism against Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) for his extended hold on military promotions. She labeled his actions a “mistake” and accused him of exploiting military families for political gain.

Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Haley, herself a military spouse, expressed her disapproval of Tuberville’s months-long obstruction of over 300 military nominations and promotions. Senator Tuberville’s protest centers on a Pentagon policy that reimburses service members for travel costs when seeking abortions outside their home state. He argues that this policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for most abortion procedures, despite the fact that the policy covers travel expenses and not the actual abortion procedure.

Haley acknowledged her disagreement with the policy and blamed the Department of Defense for initiating it without congressional approval. She asserted her commitment to ending the policy if elected president, emphasizing the importance of involving all three branches of government in such decisions.

However, Haley stressed her objection to using military families as political pawns, indicating that Tuberville’s actions were not justifiable. She called on Senate Democrats to individually confirm the stalled military nominations and promotions, emphasizing that they should address each case separately, even if the process consumes significant floor time.

Haley argued that a thorough examination of each nominee would eventually lead to a resolution, stating, “This isn’t about making it convenient for Congress. This is about making sure you’re doing right by members of the military.”

The dispute surrounding military promotions highlights ongoing debates over abortion policies, congressional procedures, and the impact of political decisions on military personnel and their families.