Biden rips Tuberville after military holds lifted: ‘I hope no one forgets what he did’

President Biden on Tuesday ripped Sen. Tommy Tuberville after the Alabama Republican ended a nearly 10-month hold on military nominations, arguing the senator’s actions were “politically motivated” and “pointless.”

“These confirmations are long overdue, and should never have been held up in the first place. Our service members are the backbone of our country and deserve to receive the pay and promotions they have earned,” Biden said in a statement. “In the end, this was all pointless.

“Senator Tuberville, and the Republicans who stood with him, needlessly hurt hundreds of servicemembers and military families and threatened our national security — all to push a partisan agenda. I hope no one forgets what he did,” Biden added. “Those who serve this nation deserve better.”

Biden welcomed the release on the backlog of nominations, saying it would allow military families to make plans to move, start new jobs and send their kids to new schools.

“Our servicemembers and military families put everything on the line for our country,” Biden said. “I thank the Senate for quickly confirming these appointments and urge them to confirm the remaining appointees swiftly.”

Tuberville struck a deal with Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that allowed all promotions for officers at the three-star level to be confirmed en bloc. The hold remains in place on those at the four-star level, which applies to nearly a dozen officers. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday moved on more than 400 nominations en bloc via unanimous consent, finally allowing service members to take on their new roles after hanging in limbo for much of the year. 

Tuberville earlier this year put in place a hold on all military promotions to protest the Pentagon’s post-Roe policy that pays for service members to travel for abortions.

The White House for months hammered Tuberville, arguing his blockade was hurting U.S. military readiness and was adversely affecting the families of officials who had earned their promotion.

Tuberville in recent weeks came under increasing pressure from Democrats and his Republican colleagues in the Senate. The furor hit a fever pitch prior to the Thanksgiving break, as a group of GOP senators, headed by a number of those who have military backgrounds, twice went to the floor to advance individual nominees via unanimous consent. Tuberville blocked every request.