Gov Huckabee slams Biden after Air Guardsman resigns from leadership over Pentagon abortion policy

Arkansas GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in criticizing President Joe Biden after a state Air National Guard commander resigned from his post over the Pentagon's abortion policy.

Sanders criticized the Democrat president and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this week in a letter in which she also said Col. Dillon Patterson, commander of the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, resigned over the Pentagon's policy that allows military members to take a leave for procedures that include abortions. 

"Unfortunately, Col. Patterson was forced to personally choose between either continuing his command or adhering to his sincerely held religious beliefs against abortion," Sanders wrote, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

"Because he adhered first to his faith instead of overtly political mandates, he voluntarily resigned his command, the Republican governor also wrote. "I admire Col. Patterson for having the confidence of his convictions, but regret that our nation's military will suffer the loss of a dedicated airman, leader, and guardsman as a commander."

A spokesperson for the Arkansas National Guard told the newspaper Patterson "stated personal faith based reasons for his resignation."

While he is no longer in a command position, Patterson is still a member of the Guard.

Last year, the U.S. military announced it would grant service members who had to travel to another state to get an abortion, up to three weeks of administrative leave. Since the overturning of Roe V. Wade in 2022, some states have stricter abortion laws than others.