The Army, Marines and Navy are simultaneously without official leadership for the first time in history because the process that typically confirms the nominations of military higher-ups is being held up by a lone senator. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) is taking a stand against what he called “woke policies” inside the military.
In December 2022, Tuberville promised he would uphold the process that promotes military members to higher ranks until the military stopped using taxpayer dollars for servicewomen to travel to have an abortion.
The policy to pay for out-of-state abortions for women stationed in states with abortion bans was put in place after Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.
For eight months, Tuberville has kept his promise. In that time frame, hundreds of military members have been awaiting confirmations that will promote them in the ranks, and now that includes the highest positions in the three military branches.
The Pentagon’s current display of its chiefs of staff has three photos missing. But if the holdout continues, soon it will be four as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley is expected to retire at the end of September. As of now, there are officials who have taken over the responsibilities in these vacant roles, just not officially with the title and benefits.
There’s currently no sense this holdout will end anytime soon. Tuberville is insistent he won’t help the military promote its members as long as the paid abortion policy stands, and the military says its keeping the policy and not bending to the senator’s demands.
It’s a deadlock, but it doesn’t have to be. The Senate has the ability to force a vote on any nominee awaiting confirmation. While it’s not feasible to call 300 separate votes to promote the military members awaiting confirmations, senators could take three votes to confirm the three chiefs of staff, as they’ve done in the past for these high-rank positions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he has no plans to call a vote, allowing the politics of the nomination process to play out.
