The disruption caused by Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on hundreds of military promotions in 2023 demonstrates how a single senator can leverage Senate procedures to create significant challenges, a dynamic that could be replicated concerning U.S. aid to Israel, according to conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt.
In February 2023, Tuberville, R-Ala., placed a hold on the promotions of over 400 senior military officers to protest a Department of Defense policy covering travel expenses for reproductive healthcare. This action, which lasted approximately 10 months, delayed the advancement of colonels and Navy captains to general and flag officer ranks, disrupting carefully planned career paths and assignments.
Hewitt, a Fox News contributor, noted that Tuberville eventually relented after pressure from senators across both parties who emphasized the damage to the careers of long-serving officers. Tuberville is expected to become the next governor of Alabama, and Hewitt suggested this experience might inform his tenure.
The commentary drew a parallel to the upcoming Michigan Senate race, specifically focusing on Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Hewitt expressed concern that El-Sayed, if elected, could potentially use similar tactics to disrupt U.S. military support for Israel. Hewitt cited El-Sayed's past appearances with streamer Hasan Piker and his calls for an embargo on weapons sales to Israel, including defensive arms.
El-Sayed supports what he describes as the "immediate and comprehensive enforcement of U.S. laws that condition the provision of military aid and sales," which he interprets as an "immediate arms embargo on Israel." He contends that this position applies to all weapons, not just offensive ones, and includes systems like the Iron Dome.
Hewitt posited that while one senator cannot unilaterally halt all aid, the precedent set by Tuberville's blockade illustrates the potential for disruption. He suggested that a Senator El-Sayed might be inclined to employ similar tactics, questioning if such actions would cause him to lose sleep over potential damage to U.S. national security interests.
The author contended that while some Democrats, like Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, are considered pro-defense, the Senate's internal dynamics might prevent them from publicly criticizing a party colleague, mirroring the situation in 2023. Hewitt concluded that the Michigan Senate race is critically important for national security, framing El-Sayed as a "dangerous radical" who should not be in a position to undermine the armed forces.