White House says it is Pentagon’s ‘sacred obligation’ to help troops get abortions: Tears into Republicans and says U.S. military will ‘lose talent’ if access to the procedure is limited
Hardline abortion restrictions in states such as Alabama are having an impact on morale in the U.S. military, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, as he delivered an impassioned defense of Pentagon policies.
It comes as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, blocks hundred of senior military appointments in protest.
He says he will not back down unless the Defense Department scraps its policy offering support to service members who need to travel out of state for terminations after the Supreme Court scrapped abortion protections last year.
‘I’m really glad you asked that question,’ said Kirby, who is an admiral in the Navy in response to a query about whether the policy was necessary for military readiness.
He said for an all-volunteer service, it was part of the contract between military leaders and the men and women who signed up to serve.