This aerial photograph of Washington shows the Pentagon in Washington on January 26, 2020.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
This aerial view of Washington shows the Pentagon in Washington on Jan. 26, 2020.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
According to Senate rules, any senator can put a hold on nominations. According to Senate rules, any senator can place a hold on nominations. The Pentagon responded to questions from reporters by saying that the Department has 83 three- and four-star nominations pending for positions already vacated or due to rotate within the next 150 days. This is unsafe, unheard of and unprecedented. “
The Navy Army and Marine Corps lack top leaders due to the hold. By the end of September Gen. Mark Milley will be retiring by law as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is not eligible for a further extension. Brown, the officer who will replace him, Air Force general C.Q. Brown, is also awaiting approval by the Senate.
The Pentagon gave this further breakdown.
“Sixty-one of those officers are unable to assume their new positions. The Pentagon provided this further breakdown.
“Sixty-one of those officers are unable to assume their new positions. Generals and Admirals cannot have their date of rank backdated. Therefore, these officers won’t receive a salary increase as they perform duties at a higher level. “
In addition, 25 of the officers had their retirements delayed until either the holds are lifted or December 31, 2023.
‘Political pawns’
Tuberville has argued that the Pentagon is violating the law by reimbursing servicemembers who travel to states whose laws are more lenient for abortion care. The Supreme Court overturned
Roe V. Wade
which made abortions legal for half a century. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade
, which for half a century made abortions legal. Now each state is free to set its own abortion policies. The Pentagon has not provided any specifics about the reimbursements for servicemembers who travel to receive reproductive care. This includes in vitro fertilisation. Tuberville, despite the arguments of military and civilian officials, insists that payments are only for travel, not medical care. He says he won’t change his mind until Democrats allow a vote on the policy.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made three calls to Tuberville, urging him to abandon the holds. According to a defense official, the conversation was short and Tuberville asked if the Pentagon would abandon its policy. And members of the Senate have lashed out at Tuberville.“The senator from Alabama has chosen a profoundly insulting and damaging path to make his unhappiness known,” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. The Senate has always treated nominations of military personnel with respect and bipartisan backing as part a routine promotion procedure. They have now been made into political pawns, by the senator of Alabama. Moreover, military wives are also calling on Tuberville’s hold to be lifted. Tonya Murphy’s husband, a Navy commander delivered to senators a petition signed by 500 spouses. The senator claims to have a letter from 5,000 veterans in support of his position. “They forced me to do it. They did it anyway.” Since then, Chuck Schumer, the Biden administration, and
Chuck Schumer have refused to engage in serious negotiations. This situation has continued. “I will continue to oversee the process and will announce my opposition in the coming weeks.” Officials hope that Tuberville at least allows some nominations to be put to a vote in September when the Senate returns. This is especially true for the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who will serve as the president’s top military advisor.