Yet hundreds of other senior military officers remain in limbo.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown to be the military’s top officer Wednesday night, though a months-long blockade by Sen. Tommy Tuberville is still leaving over 300 senior officers in limbo.
The 83-11 vote to confirm Brown as Joint Chiefs chair was a surprise development amid the Alabama Republican’s promotions hold.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who for months refused to hold standalone votes on military nominees, teed up votes on three of President Joe Biden’s Joint Chiefs picks after Tuberville forced Democrats’ hand.
Tuberville instituted the hold in protest of the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing troops who must travel to obtain abortions or other reproductive care.
Brown, now the Air Force chief of staff, is a historic pick. He becomes just the second Black officer to lead the Joint Chiefs after Army Gen. Colin Powell. And as Air Force chief, Brown was the first Black military service chief.
Brown’s confirmation also averts another unprecedented senior vacancy when Gen. Mark Milley steps down from the top post at the end of the month. The nominee blockade has already resulted in three spots on the Joint Chiefs — the heads of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps — going without Senate-confirmed leaders.
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Senate confirms Brown to lead Joint Chiefs, blowing past Tuberville’s blockade https://t.co/ldQns456AK
— POLITICO (@politico) September 20, 2023
The Senate just overwhelmingly approved Gen. Randy George to be the Army’s top officer.
He's the second of a trio of military officials to overcome Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of senior Pentagon nominees. https://t.co/baqzo6FxgQ
— POLITICO (@politico) September 21, 2023
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