The US Marine Corps was left without a designated commander due to a political row on Monday, the first time this has happened in more than 100 years. General David Berger is resigning as commander after 4 years of service, and his deputy, General Eric Smith, whom Joe Biden has nominated as his successor, can only command the US armed forces as acting commander without Senate approval. The Senate approval was blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, who previously said
It will block all military appointments that require Senate approval in protest of the Department of Defense’s abortion subsidies.
For this reason, the new commander, as the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, cannot assume office or issue command directives. At the same time, you can make training, budget, and other personnel decisions. Under Secretary of State Lloyd Austin’s decision, the Pentagon will provide travel assistance to workers in Alabama for out-of-state abortions after Alabama law bans abortions.
Secretary Lloyd Austin and outgoing David Berger called on the Senate to act on approvals at a public event Monday in Washington. The position of Commander of the Navy is the first high-ranking military position to be affected by the political blockade of Senator Tommy Tuberville, who
Several people within his party are also trying to persuade him to abandon this method of protest.
In the near future, the functions of the commander of the US Navy, Army and Air Force will be terminated, and the US Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Milley, will retire at the end of September. Successors appointed to office may not hold office without a unanimous decision of the Senate.
In June, Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance announced a similar political blockade of the president’s nominees for Justice Department posts in protest of the federal indictment of Donald Trump in June.
(MTI)
Opening image: MTI/Zsolt Czeglédi
