Senate is set to confirm 3 military nominees but GOP senator still blocking hundreds of others

40

The Senate is on the verge of confirming a new chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday. This move comes as Democrats seek ways to navigate around the numerous holds placed on military nominations by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville’s objections are rooted in the Pentagon’s abortion policy, and he has been preventing the Senate from approving these nominations en masse, much to the frustration of Democrats who preferred a more streamlined process.

However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, altered his strategy on Wednesday and decided to push for individual votes on three high-ranking nominees. These include Gen. CQ Brown, who is slated to succeed Gen. Mark Milley as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff upon Milley’s scheduled resignation on September 30th, as mandated by law. The other two nominees are Gen. Randy George for the position of Army Chief of Staff and Gen. Eric Smith, nominated to be the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Remarkably, Tuberville did not object to these confirmation votes. He indicated his intention to maintain his holds but expressed willingness to consider voting on the nominations individually via roll call—a potentially time-consuming process that could extend over several months and potentially disrupt other legislative priorities.

Schumer characterized Tuberville’s actions as obstruction and emphasized the need to confront it directly. He stated, “Senator Tuberville is forcing us to face his obstruction head-on. I want to make clear to my Republican colleagues—this cannot continue.”

It is expected that Gen. Brown’s confirmation will occur on Wednesday evening, with confirmation votes for Gen. Smith and Gen. George anticipated later this week.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby acknowledged the positive news of the likely confirmation of the three nominees but expressed frustration, emphasizing that this resolution doesn’t address the broader problem. There are still 316 other general and flag officer nominations pending due to Tuberville’s holds.

Tuberville reiterated on Wednesday that he intends to maintain holds on the remaining nominations until the Pentagon revises its policy of funding travel for service members seeking abortion or reproductive care out of state. The Biden administration implemented this policy in response to changes in abortion rights following a Supreme Court decision and restrictive state laws.

In a bid to compel Tuberville to reconsider his stance, Democrats had previously refused to bring individual nominations to the Senate floor, citing the lengthy confirmation process that would ensue. However, Schumer’s announcement on Wednesday indicated a shift in strategy, driven by the absence of alternatives. He criticized Tuberville for using the nominees as pawns in this political standoff.

The ongoing holds have generated frustration among members of both political parties, and a clear resolution to this larger standoff remains uncertain. Schumer did not specify whether he plans to present additional nominations for a Senate vote.

In recent days, this months-long impasse has evolved into a complex procedural exchange, with Tuberville claiming a victory of sorts after Schumer’s recent actions, despite the fact that the Pentagon’s abortion policy remains unchanged.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Confirmation

More about Confirmation

• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
• Senator Tommy Tuberville
• Pentagon’s Abortion Policy
• White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby
• Supreme Court Decision on Abortion