WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and their Republican colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting justification for a recent assertion from a top Department of Defense (DoD) official who said the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization would affect the “readiness of the Force.”
In a memorandum to the Force dated June 28, 2022, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. claimed the Supreme Court’s ruling in which there is no constitutional right to abortion “will have significant implications for…the readiness of the Force,” but provided no evidence to support this conclusion.
The Senators request that Secretary Austin describe the “significant implications” on readiness referenced in the memorandum and cite the data used to support Secretary Cisneros’ conclusion.
The Senators also seek additional information about the Pentagon’s ongoing review of current policies and procedures related to abortion described in the June 28 memorandum.
Joining Senators Cramer and Inhofe are Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Click here to read the letter.