Nominee for Top Military Officer Warns that GOP Sen. Tuberville’s Nomination Hold May Result in Loss of Talent within Armed Forces

Nominee for Top Military Officer Warns of Impacts from Senator’s Hold on Nominations

Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the nominee to become the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concerns about the widespread impacts caused by a senator’s hold on military nominations during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. The hold, placed by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, has created challenges that affect service members now and in the future. Gen. Brown emphasized the potential loss of talent due to these challenges, as junior officers may reconsider their career paths if they anticipate similar obstacles in the future. The hold on nominations has significant implications for the military, including the Marine Corps operating without a Senate-confirmed commandant for the first time in 164 years.

Sen. Tuberville’s hold is in protest against the Defense Department’s policy that covers certain abortion-related travel expenses for service members in states with restrictive reproductive healthcare laws. He intends to maintain the hold until the policy is changed or passed through legislation. As a result, the Marine Corps is currently led by assistant commandant Gen. Eric Smith, who has been nominated for commandant but awaits Senate confirmation. Similar challenges arise for other positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the chief of staff of the Army, the chief of Naval Operations, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are required to leave their posts in the coming months. Additionally, the Senate will need to confirm the next Air Force Chief of Staff to replace Gen. Brown when he assumes the role of chairman.

The Pentagon estimates that the hold could impact 650 nominations by the end of the year, leaving approximately 89% of all general and flag officer positions vacant or requiring Senate confirmation. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh expressed concerns about facing rising challenges from around the world while dealing with these vacancies. Sen. Tuberville’s hold complicates the confirmation process, as the Senate typically approves military promotions by unanimous consent or voice vote. Democrats argue that holding individual votes on each nominee would be time-consuming and nearly impossible due to the senator’s hold.

Sen. Jack Reed, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that invoking cloture on each nominee would take an estimated 668 hours, or 27 days of continuous voting if the Senate worked around the clock, and 84 days if they worked 8 hours a day. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Sen. Tuberville of risking military security and called on other Republican leaders to pressure him to back off. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that changing the Senate’s voting process for military promotions would set a dangerous precedent and undermine the Department of Defense’s ability to manage its officer corps.

In conclusion, Gen. Brown’s confirmation as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with numerous other military nominations, faces uncertainty due to Sen. Tuberville’s hold. The potential loss of talent and the significant impact on the military’s leadership structure highlight the urgency to address and resolve this issue.

Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-07-11 20:12:28