White House Claims Laws Safeguarding The Unborn Impact Military Morale And Retention

Kirby also referred to the Pentagon's facilitation of abortion procurement as a "sacred obligation."

The Republican Party in Congress has been working to disentangle the U.S. military from pro-abortion initiatives through amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. One such amendment, proposed by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), was passed last Thursday. However, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has taken a different approach by utilizing senatorial privileges.

July 19, 2023

According to NPR, Tuberville has blocked every personnel move in the U.S. military requiring confirmation since February, which amounts to at least 270. In a July 14 op-ed, Tuberville expressed concern about the military being used for "liberal social engineering" and criticized the Pentagon's use of taxpayer dollars for abortion-related expenses without congressional authorization or appropriation.

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Tuberville has also raised the issue of the Pentagon's abortion policy violating the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortions. His principled stance has drawn criticism not only from Democrats but also from seven former U.S. secretaries of Defense, who sent a letter on May 4 urging the Senate to act on the nearly 200 nominees for general and flag officer who are being blocked from confirmation.

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During the press briefing on Monday, a reporter questioned Kirby about Tuberville's holds on military promotions and the administration's criticism of Tuberville for harming military readiness due to social policy. The reporter asked why the new DOD policy on abortion is critical to military readiness. Kirby responded by emphasizing the significant number of women in the U.S. military, stating that when individuals sign up, they have the right to expect that the military will take care of them and their families. Kirby referred to the facilitation of abortion procurement as a "foundational, sacred obligation of military leaders" and suggested that pro-life laws in the country are affecting service members' willingness to continue serving and their spouses' decision to continue service.

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Kirby's suggestion that abortion might impact the Pentagon's recruitment crisis echoes remarks made by Gil Cisneros, the Pentagon's chief of personnel and readiness, last summer. Cisneros expressed concerns that service members stationed in states with restrictive reproductive health laws might choose to leave the military altogether.

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However, there are other factors that appear to have a more significant impact on recruitment and retention in the U.S. military than the availability of abortion. The Army missed its recruitment goal by 25% last year, the worst recruiting year since the end of the draft in 1973.

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U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth cited the problem of obesity in the country, stating that only about 23% of young Americans between 16 and 21 meet the military's standards. The Air Force recently eased its body fat requirements in an attempt to meet its yearly active-duty recruiting goal.

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Wormuth also highlighted the lack of interest in joining the military among young Americans, with only 9% expressing interest. Even military families, whose children make up the majority of new recruits, have become less enthusiastic about encouraging their children to join due to the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan War in 2021.

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Financial incentives that were once a draw for potential recruits are no longer as enticing when civilian institutions offer similar or better benefits. The military must also contend with negative perceptions of service, fueled by negative headlines, as well as an under-educated public and a competitive civilian job market.

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Additionally, the electronic health record for the Military Health System, called Genesis, may have disqualified prospects who have been on medications in the past or have had consultations with psychiatrists. Genesis has also been accused of lengthening medical screenings, further complicating the recruitment process.

Furthermore, the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate may have deterred some individuals from considering military service. While the military claims there is no hard data to show that the vaccine mandate has impacted recruitment, thousands of service members who refused the vaccine have been discharged.