Because of a Blockade by a single US Senator For the first time after the departure of the chief of the Navy, three branches of the US military are without top personnel.
For the first time in the history of the US Department of Defense “operate as of today three of our military services without Senate-approved leadersSecretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Monday at ceremonies marking the end of Navy Chief Mike Gilday’s term in office. “This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it’s unsafe.”
The Republican Tommy Tuberville from the state of Alabama has been opposing nominations for the US Army for months. He’s protesting the Pentagon’s decision to sponsor servicewomen traveling to have an abortion. More than 300 military nominees are now awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
The Senate can approve personnel decisions individually. However, Tuberville’s blockade prevents the Chamber of Congress from quickly putting several new appointments into effect at the same time through a unanimous vote.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro called on the Senate to move forward with the stalled nominations at Gilday’s farewell ceremony. Don’t do this, become the Army operational readiness further reduced and even the lives of the soldiers would be endangered, Del Toro said.
Lisa Franchetti, who is already vice chief of the Navy, has been nominated for the top Navy post. She will now hold the position on an interim basis in addition to her office.
The chief of the marines and the army chief of staff had already left their posts in the past few weeks. In addition, the departure of the chairman of the joint general staff is also pending. Should Tuberville’s blockade then persist, four of eight positions of the General Staff only be temporarily occupied. (AFP)
