Current:Home > ScamsSenate confirms new army chief as one senator’s objection holds up other military nominations-VaTradeCoin
Senate confirms new army chief as one senator’s objection holds up other military nominations
View Date:2025-01-08 16:08:05
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is confirming three of the Pentagon’s top leaders, filling the posts after monthslong delays and as a Republican senator is still holding up hundreds of other nominations and promotions for military officers.
Gen. Randy George was confirmed as Army Chief of Staff on Thursday, and Gen. Eric Smith is expected to be confirmed as commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps by Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, putting him in place to succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of the month.
Democrats are still trying to maneuver around holds placed on more than 300 nominations by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Tuberville has been blocking the Senate from the routine process of approving the military nominations in groups, forcing Democrats to bring the nominations up one by one — a process that could take months and delay other priorities.
The Senate usually holds roll call votes to confirm top Pentagon leadership such as Brown, George and Smith. But lower-ranking promotions and nominations are always approved in large groups by unanimous consent, meaning no objections from senators. Tuberville has upended that tradition by objecting, and he has said he will continue to object unless the Pentagon reverses its new policy of paying for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care.
In an effort to force Tuberville’s hand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had originally said he would not move any of the nominations, including the top leaders, until Tuberville lifted the holds. But Tuberville has dug in, repeatedly coming to the floor to object to the nominations.
On Wednesday, Schumer reversed course and said the Senate would hold votes on the three military leaders. “Senator Tuberville is forcing us to face his obstruction head on,” Schumer said.
The blockade has frustrated members on both sides of the aisle, and it is still unclear how the larger standoff will be resolved. Schumer did not say if he would put additional nominations on the floor.
George, nominated by President Joe Biden in April, was confirmed on a 96-1 vote. The current vice chief of the Army, he is also a highly decorated infantry officer, who commanded at all levels and did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been focused on efforts to modernize the Army and revamp recruiting as the service expects to fall short of its enlistment goal this year.
Smith, who was nominated in May, is a highly decorated Marine officer who as the assistant commandant has been involved in the transformation of the force to be better able to fight amphibious wars in the Pacific after years of battling terrorist groups in the Middle East. He is a career infantry officer who has commanded at every level and served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, including time in Fallujah and Ramadi during heavy combat in 2004 and 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A host of military officers have spoken out about the damage of the delays for service members at all levels. While Tuberville’s holds are focused on all general and flag officers, the delays block opportunities for more junior officers to rise.
“Senator Tuberville’s continued hold on hundreds of our nation’s military leaders endangers our national security and military readiness,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday after Brown was confirmed. “It is well past time to confirm the over 300 other military nominees.”
___
Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report.
veryGood! (78725)
Related
- November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
- North Carolina election board says Republican with criminal past qualifies as legislative candidate
- Blake Lively Proves Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Bond Lives on With America Ferrera Tribute
- Fake White House fire report is latest high-profile swatting attempt: What to know
- Martin Scorsese on faith in filmmaking, ‘The Saints’ and what his next movie might be
- The 3 officers cleared in Manuel Ellis’ death will each receive $500,000 to leave Tacoma police
- China’s economy expanded 5.2% last year, hitting the government’s target despite an uneven recovery
- Rhode Island governor says higher wages, better student scores and new housing among his top goals
- Wicked's Ethan Slater Shares How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Set the Tone on Set
- New Zealand’s first refugee lawmaker resigns after claims of shoplifting
Ranking
- 'SNL' stars jokingly declare support for Trump, Dana Carvey plays Elon Musk
- Why Sofía Vergara Was “Surprised” by Reaction to Joe Manganiello Breakup
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs withdraws racism lawsuit against spirits brand Diageo
- Ryan Gosling Reveals Why His and Eva Mendes' Daughters Haven't Seen Barbie Movie
- Minnesota man is free after 16 years in prison for murder that prosecutors say he didn’t commit
- Mississippi lawmakers to weigh incentives for an EV battery plant that could employ 2,000
- Russian missiles hit Ukrainian apartment buildings and injure 17 in latest strikes on civilian areas
- New Hampshire gets its turn after Trump’s big win in Iowa puts new pressure on Haley and DeSantis
Recommendation
-
Quincy Jones' cause of death revealed: Reports
-
Banks prepare to take on the Biden administration over billions of dollars in overdraft fees
-
Emmy Awards get record low ratings with audience of 4.3 million people
-
Fake White House fire report is latest high-profile swatting attempt: What to know
-
Wicked Director Jon M. Chu Reveals Name of Baby Daughter After Missing Film's LA Premiere for Her Birth
-
Claire Fagin, 1st woman to lead an Ivy League institution, dies at 97, Pennsylvania university says
-
Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood and More Stars Check in to White Lotus Season 3
-
Blac Chyna Shares Update on Her Sobriety After 16-Month Journey