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Periscope Depth 8/17/2023

Navy Confirmation Blocked in Senate
Tom Freebairn

The U.S. armed forces hit an unwelcome milestone on August 14 when Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday turned over his post to Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the now third unconfirmed service branch chief of staff. Just like the Marine Corps since June 23 and the Army since August 4, the Navy is now headed by a uniformed officer lacking senatorial confirmation.

The delay is the result of Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) months-long hold on senior military promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s reproductive health policy. Following the Supreme Court's reversal last summer of the Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion a constitutional right, the Defense Department opted to provide paid leave and cover the cost of travel for service members seeking an abortion. Tuberville has expressed his opposition to the policy by refusing to participate in the unanimous vote procedures typically used by the Senate to confirm batches of military appointments, and, in so doing, he is forcing uncommon – and arduous and slow – roll-call votes in the Senate. The Alabama senator’s protest has led to the delay of over 300 military promotions and counting, with the Pentagon suggesting that as many as 650 positions could be vacant by year’s end...

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