In a breakthrough for the US Senate, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown has been confirmed as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This confirmation comes after a logjam caused by a blanket hold on promotions placed by Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.[0] Gen. Brown's confirmation clears the way for him to become the first Airman to serve as the nation's top military officer in 19 years.
The confirmation of Gen. Brown is an initial step towards breaking a months-long logjam that has left more than 300 senior military promotions in limbo. Sen. Tuberville had placed a hold on these promotions to protest a Pentagon policy that provides paid leave and travel funds for troops requiring reproductive services, including abortions, in states where those services are not available.[1] Tuberville argued that this policy is illegal and demanded a congressional vote on the Pentagon's abortion policy.
The hold on promotions has caused frustration among Senate Democrats, who have balked at the time-intensive process of confirming nominees one by one. They argue that confirming the nominees individually would take up too much floor time and encourage more blockades in the future.[1] However, Tuberville has remained steadfast in his refusal to approve the nominees until the Pentagon's abortion policy is lifted.[2]
The confirmation of Gen. Brown is a significant development, as it breaks the logjam and allows for the filling of key military positions. The Senate is also poised to approve two other top military officers to their respective posts.[0] However, Tuberville's holds on promotions remain in place, leaving hundreds of military officers in limbo and the US army, navy, and marines without Senate-confirmed leaders.
Tuberville's insistence on a congressional vote on the Pentagon's abortion policy has sparked controversy and frustration among Senate Democrats. They argue that confirming the nominees individually would be a time-consuming process and have called for Tuberville to lift the holds on promotions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced plans to confront Tuberville's obstruction head-on, but the process of confirming all the nominees individually would require over 700 hours of floor time.[3]
Despite the ongoing dispute, Gen. Brown's confirmation is seen as a positive development for the US military. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the commander of Pacific Air Forces and the air component of US Indo-Pacific Command.[4] Gen. Brown is also the second Black officer to hold the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[5]
While the confirmation of Gen. Brown is a significant step forward, there are still vacancies in other top military positions. The Navy's top uniformed spot has been vacant since August, and the Army and Marine Corps are also being led by interim chiefs who are waiting to be confirmed.[0] The ongoing logjam has created a backlog of over 300 unfilled positions, which is expected to rise to over 650 by the end of the year.[6]
The Senate's confirmation of Gen. Brown is a positive development for the US military, but the dispute over promotions and the Pentagon's abortion policy continues.[7] The Senate must find a resolution to this logjam to ensure that key military positions are filled and the nation's security is not compromised.
0. “Senate confirms new Joint Chiefs chairman, set to vote on Marine and Army chiefs in political twist” Breaking Defense, 20 Sep. 2023, https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/brown-tuberville-vote-randy-george-eric-smith-schumer-senate-hold/
1. “Senate Confirms Brown as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs” Air & Space Forces Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/senate-confirms-brown-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs
2. “As both the No. 1 and No. 2 Marine, his schedule is ‘not sustainable'” Marine Corps Times, 18 Sep. 2023, https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/09/18/as-both-the-no-1-and-no-2-marine-his-schedule-is-not-sustainable
3. “Senate confirms C.Q. Brown as chairman of Joint Chiefs after monthslong Tuberville hold” CNN, 21 Sep. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/20/politics/tommy-tuberville-schumer-nominations-vote/index.html
4. “Senate confirms Air Force Gen. Charles Brown as Chairmain of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 83-11” Fox News, 21 Sep. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-confirms-air-force-gen-charles-brown-chairmain-joint-chiefs-staff
5. “Senate bucks Tuberville's blockade to begin approving military promotions” NPR, 20 Sep. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/09/20/1200705608/senate-tuberville-hold-military-promotions
6. “Is Tommy Tuberville Paving the Way for Trump to Fill the Pentagon with Lackeys?” The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/article/175511/tommy-tuberville-trump-pentagon-lackeys
7. “Senate confirms Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs” Roll Call , 21 Sep. 2023, https://rollcall.com/2023/09/20/in-preemptive-strike-schumer-files-cloture-on-top-dod-jobs
![The wildfires in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii have caused extensive destruction and devastation.[0]…](https://theprepper.store/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/tempRAXlBH-211x150.png "The wildfires in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii have caused extensive destruction and devastation.[0]…")
