Senate moving ahead on three key military nominations stalled by Tuberville delays

Author: Editors Desk Source: The Washington Post

September 20, 2023 at 17:32

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) during a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Schumer said earlier that Tuberville declined the opportunity because he knows he won’t get a majority to vote with him.

The Senate is moving ahead with votes on three senior-level military officers whose promotions have long been stalled because of opposition by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who has for months protested an abortion policy at the Pentagon.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D.N.Y.) announced Wednesday that he would use a procedural maneuver to tee up votes on the nominations of Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Randy George to become chief of staff of the Army, and Gen. Eric Smith to become the next commandant of the Marine Corps.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly — 89 to 8 — to advance the nomination of Brown on Wednesday afternoon and planned a final vote on his confirmation, which is now widely expected, Wednesday night. Votes on the other two nominees were expected to follow as early as Wednesday night.

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