Topline
The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday to confirm three top military nominations, ending a monthslong stalemate over the appointments forced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) over his objection to a military abortion policy.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) leaves the Senate floor after a vote in the Capitol on Tuesday, … [+]
Key Facts
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed a cloture to expedite debate on the three appointments, setting the stage for formal votes as early as Wednesday to confirm Gen. C.Q. Brown as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair, Gen. Randy George as Army Chief of Staff and Gen. Eric Smith as Marine commandant.
The move comes after Tuberville, for months, has refused to agree to approve military confirmations as a form of protest against a Pentagon policy that pays for travel expenses for members seeking out-of-state abortions.
Schumer has been reluctant to bring single appointments to the floor for a vote as it defies Senate precedent of approving the president’s nominees in batches to avoid lengthy debate on each confirmation, which the Senate approves by unanimous consent.
Schumer broke with Senate tradition on Wednesday after Tuberville also filed cloture to force a vote on Smith’s appointment.
Both Tuberville and Schumer sought to cast the forthcoming votes as wins, with Tuberville tweeting that he called Schumer’s bluff and Schumer declaring Tuberville “will have accomplished nothing” in ending the abortion policy.
Crucial Quote
“One of us was bluffing. It wasn’t me. Democrats are taking the same action they could’ve taken months ago,” Tuberville tweeted, adding that he will continue blocking other military appointments unless the abortion policy is overturned.
Big Number
301. That’s the number of military nominations Tuberville has effectively blocked over the past seven months, as of mid-August.
Key Background
Tuberville’s objection has been widely criticized by both sides of the aisle and military leaders have repeatedly urged him to lift his hold. The Senate’s Wednesday vote comes less than two weeks before Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Mark Milley was set to retire. George and Smith are already working in their new roles in an acting capacity.
Further Reading
Army And Marines Now Leaderless As Senator Blocks Hundreds Of Nominations—A Historic First (Forbes)
Biden Blasts Tuberville For ‘Jeopardizing National Security’ By Holding Up Hundreds Of Military Nominees (Forbes)
Naval Chief Retires — Leaving Navy, Army, And Marines Without Leadership Amid Tuberville’s Abortion Protest (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/09/20/senate-to-vote-on-key-military-confirmations-amid-tuberville-blockade/