DeSantis Slams Defense Department’s Support Of ‘Abortion Tourism’
On Saturday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his endorsement of Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) decision to block over 300 military promotions. However, he later criticized the Department of Defense for its stance on abortion.
At an event organized by the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, the GOP presidential candidate expressed their belief that the Defense Department’s actions are illegal. They accused the department of using taxpayer money to support abortion tourism, which they consider a violation of the law.
“When agencies engage in such actions, it is necessary for Congress to assert itself and resist.”
Tuberville has received backlash from the secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy due to his opposition to a Pentagon policy that provides reimbursement for service members who travel out of state to obtain an abortion.
“I cannot reword”
On Saturday, DeSantis highlighted the presence of a restricted amount of funds in the defense budget and then criticized Biden for his policy.
The governor of Florida expressed concern about the current state of affairs: “Our ammunition supply is dwindling, our recruitment efforts are severely lacking, and I have heard that you are supporting abortion tourism. Can we truly consider this as a means of safeguarding our nation?”
“I cannot reword”
According to the Des Moines Register, DeSantis restated his endorsement of the Tuberville blockade, while Nikki Haley, a fellow Republican candidate and former South Carolina Gov., expressed her belief that service members should not be manipulated for political purposes at the same event.
In a recent CNN interview, Haley accused the Pentagon of initiating the situation and proposed that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should conduct separate votes for each military personnel.
As pointed out by CNN’s Jake Tapper, this decision would deviate from the usual Senate practice of unanimously voting on a batch of individuals for military promotions.
According to The Hill, John Kirby, the spokesperson for White House national security, defended the policy in July by stating that service members follow orders regarding their deployment.
He inquired about the course of action if one were to be assigned to a state such as Alabama, where there are strict abortion laws, and expressed concern about access to reproductive healthcare. Should one decline the assignment and leave?
He added, “If individuals choose to do so, what are the implications? We will lose valuable and crucial talent. This will greatly affect our ability to attract and retain personnel. It is simply the right thing to do for those who volunteer to serve in the military.”
