Fort Liberty families impacted by hold on military promotions

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, has held up nominations and promotions of more than 300 senior military leaders in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion policy.

Tuberville’s has refused to confirm top military officer in his seven-month standoff with the Department of Defense.

On Thursday, an Army official said the hold on promotions is impacting leaders at Fort Liberty.

Brandi Jones, a military wife, told WRAL News that the delay has families stuck between new jobs, homes and schools.

Jones is an advocate for military families with the nonpartisan group Secure Families Initiative and her husband, an active-duty Marine, has been stationed all around the country including at Camp Lejeune.

“You’re thrown into complete limbo and chaos in your family,” Jones said.

“Now, you no longer have a job where you are currently living, nor do you have a job where you were supposed to go,” Jones said.

Duke political science professor Peter Feaver said Tuberville’s policy concerns are valid.

"The question of how to handle health care for service women in the post Roe v. Wade era, that’s a legitimate policy question,” Feaver said.

However, Feaver, who served on the national Security Council in the George W. Bush administration said that debate should happen in Congress.

"What puts us in uncharted territory is how long this has gone on,” Feaver said. “And, the fact that he's targeted all of the top most officers.”

For the first time in more than 100 years, the Marine Corps does not have a confirmed commandant.

The Navy and the Army are also without service chiefs.

WRAL News asked Feaver what kind of impact this has on the country’s readiness.

"It's profound, and it will take a while for it to be to be played out,” Feaver said. “Of course, the military is a large organization and military is not going to collapse tomorrow because of this, but the damage is pretty serious."

An Army spokesperson told WRAL News that Fort Liberty is impacted.

The promotions of eight top officers are on hold, including Col. Andrew Saslav, deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne. It’s a division known for its ability to deploy at any moment.

"Now, the war that they're being asked to fight is a culture war, and they're not even a combatant," Feaver asid.

Feaver said there is no end in sight to the standoff. He said the number of officers impacted will rise to about 600 by the end of this year.

Jones and other spouses with Secure Families Initiative recently took a trip to Washington, D.C. to hand deliver a letter to Tuberville asking him to end the hold.

Meanwhile, Tuberville shared a letter with lawmakers, showing support he’s getting from veterans.