Navy Head: Consequences of Senator's 'Holds' Dire

Adm. Lisa Franchetti, acting chief of naval operations, said a protest on military nominations by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., will "take years to recover" from.

Speaking Thursday before the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Franchetti testified that Tuberville's ongoing hold on over 315 military nominations will have dire consequences.

"I think just at the three-star level, it would take about three to four months to move all the people around, but it will take years to recover from the – if confirmed – promotion delays that we would see for years to come," Franchetti said.

Franchetti's hearing comes as she seeks Senate approval to become the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Since Michael M. Gilday retired last month, she has been filling the role.

In addition to Franchetti, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith are working in acting leadership positions with the expectation of being confirmed.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. is slated to replace Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which would create another vacancy in Brown's previous position.

Tuberville's charge against the Pentagon's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for over six months has caused the pandemonium over acting vs. official capacity in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Tuberville has specifically taken issue with a policy that allows female service members stationed in states where abortion is restricted to have their costs covered to go out of state for the procedure.

Tuberville has been resolute in his position throughout the past year and defended it again Tuesday on Newsmax's "Rob Schmitt Tonight."

"It started out at one and now is up to 311," Tuberville said. "I don't think they took me from my word, but now I'm sure they're starting to panic a little bit. They don't want to do it my way. They want to do it their way, and we're just going to have a standoff until they change their mind because I'm not changing my mind."

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