When I ran for U.S. Senate, I promised the people of Alabama that I would fight for them in Washington, D.C. Many Alabamians are enthusiastically pro-life and sent me to the U.S. Capitol with a clear message: every life is worth fighting for.
Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the former secretary of defense issued a memo requiring taxpayers to pay for abortion-related travel for military service members and their families. Not only was this a blatant violation of the law, but it was flat-out wrong. I asked for answers for over a year – writing letters, asking for meetings – and heard crickets. In response to the lack of transparency from the Pentagon and the Biden administration, I put a hold on all U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) flag officer and civilian nominations for nearly a year.
As the son of a World War II veteran, I deeply respect our service members. I saw firsthand the sacrifices my dad made for our country. His service had nothing to do with politics – it was about honor and duty. I try to carry on his legacy every day. That’s why I knew I was doing the right thing when I stood against the Pentagon being turned into Planned Parenthood 2.0.
Not surprisingly, my efforts to hold the Pentagon accountable to taxpayers were misrepresented and blown out of proportion by the fake news media. They claimed that my holds would impact “readiness” – when, in reality, the politicization of our military is what has led to a recruiting crisis.
I did what Alabamians elected me to do – I fought for taxpayers and the unborn. Little did I know I would spend the vast majority of 2023 being attacked by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
The military's stated purpose is to “protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force.” Unfortunately, under Joe Biden, the military became a hub for woke Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training, gender transition surgeries, and Critical Race Theory. They even dismissed more than 8,000 able-bodied soldiers who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. So, I wasn’t really surprised when the Pentagon announced it would force taxpayers to pay for abortions. This was par for the course.
The U.S. military should be a lethal, killing machine. Our national security depends on it. The Pentagon should be on the cutting edge of technology and readiness, not a classroom propagating indoctrination. And let me tell you – abortion will NEVER make our military stronger or our country safer.
Thankfully, the American people saw through the lunacy of the previous administration when they put my friend, President Donald Trump, back in the White House.
Trump and I have something in common: promises made, promises kept. The president promised to end the woke nonsense that infiltrated the military over the last four years. He called Pete Hegseth up to the plate to take the Pentagon by the reins and flush every last ounce of radical ideology out of the military. With that came the reversal of the DOD’s abortion-travel policy that I have been raising the alarm about over the past few years. Though it was a lonely battle at times, as of this month, it was all worth it.
I’m encouraged by the strong leadership of the Trump administration that is quickly addressing the poisonous, woke ideology that has permeated every part of our government, including the military. I’m proud of the small role I played in protecting taxpayers and standing up for life. Alabamians can count on me to stand on my word and fight for what is right – even if I must do so alone.
Thanks to Trump, common sense is being restored in our government once again. We are just getting started.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs HELP, and Aging Committees.
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