Tommy Tuberville prepares to block ONE MORE Pentagon nominee as White House goes on the run

The White House called Senator Tommy Tuberville’s grip on military promotions “shameful” and accused him of threatening national security.

The Alabama Republican has prevented more than 200 military promotions from going forward in the Senate as a means of protesting the Pentagon’s policy that helps military personnel pay to travel out of state for an abortion if they live in a state where abortion is illegal is.

DailyMail.com has learned that Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., is expected to take the floor Thursday and ask for unanimous approval to confirm Naval Academy superintendent nominee – Vice Admiral Yvette Davids. Tuberville will block unanimous consent.

“What the senator is doing by holding on to these nominations is a threat to our national security. Period of time. That’s what he does,” White House press secretary Jean-Pierre told reporters at a Wednesday briefing. “These are important nominations that we need, that the American people need to keep our country safe.”

But Tuberville has said the policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used for abortion services. He started his promotion block in March because of the policy pursued last year.

Tuberville told reporters on Wednesday he is not concerned about the potential knock-on effect of service members not being able to take on their new roles.

He said he won’t back down until Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin overturns policy or the Senate votes up or down on the Pentagon’s policy.

His office told DailyMail.com that neither the White House nor Senate Democratic leaders have reached out to seek a resolution.

Marine General Eric Smith told senators Tuesday that Tuberville’s hold on promotions could jeopardize national security.

“It certainly compromises our ability to be the most prepared,” Smith said at an Armed Services Committee hearing. “Our preparedness is national security.”

“When a three-star general retires… there will be a one-star general, a fairly new one, in charge of [a] Marine Expeditionary Force with 48,000 men,” Smith explained. “It will have an effect.”

He said the Senate GOP leadership had not urged him to back off his grip, which the leadership confirmed, despite Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell previously saying he disagrees with the tactics.

But Tuberville’s colleagues have been trying to work with him to find a solution that would allow some 250 senior officer promotions to continue.

Senator Joni Ernst introduced a bill that would effectively reverse the Pentagon’s policies, offering Tuberville a deal where her bill would be voted on as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to be passed and he would be lift grip.

Tuberville, however, refused.

“I don’t want to hold up NDAA for this,” the senator said.

Tuberville is blocking what is usually a fast-track process to confirm Pentagon nominees. The Senate could move forward with confirmations one at a time, but that would eat up floor time.

Tuberville has no remorse. “They can do the most important ones one by one. We can do five today,” he said, adding that he wasn’t worried about wasting floor time on uncontroversial nominees.

“I mean, have you seen what we’re doing here? Zero.’