The U.S. Navy on Monday became the third branch of the U.S. military to be without a Senate-confirmed commander for the first time in history, as a Republican senator continues to single-handedly block hundreds of military nominations.

The US Navy, Marine Corps and Army are currently without an approved commander.

“This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary and dangerous,” said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the retirement ceremony of Admiral Mike Gilday, who until today was the commander of the US Navy.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, has blocked the nomination process for hundreds of military nominations, accusing the Pentagon of illegally using public funds to cover travel expenses for service members and their family members seeking abortions. .

“This indiscriminate gridlock is undermining America’s ability to fight. It affects our ability to retain our best officers and destroys the lives of too many military families in America,” Austin said.

Why Senator Tuberville objects to nominations for the US Armed Forces

U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated 59-year-old Admiral Lisa Franchetti to the position of commander of the U.S. Navy, making her the first woman to command that branch of the U.S. military.

If and when the Senate in Washington confirms her nomination, Franchetti will also become an ex-officio member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Until then, she will temporarily command the US naval forces.

After the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion last summer, invalidating the historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, several US states have taken steps to ban or severely restrict access to abortion.

Under these conditions, the Pentagon has announced that it will cover the costs of servicewomen who are forced to travel out of state for abortions because they have no way of choosing the military base where they will be stationed. In addition to paying for these costs, the Pentagon announced that it will provide up to 21 days of leave to these members of its armed forces.

Tuberville, a former football coach who President Donald Trump pushed into politics during his tenure, has since blocked all Pentagon nominations for appointments and promotions.

President Joe Biden condemned the “scandalous” situation in the Senate in Washington

The situation is all the more widespread because, as a rule, the process of approving these candidates for the armed forces of the country is a simple formality in the Senate in Washington. Tuberville’s objections may not prevent the Democratic-controlled Senate from voting on the military increase, but they could dramatically slow down the process.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly condemned these political games, accusing the Republican Party of undermining the U.S. military because of its inaction on Tuberville.

“In the past, the Republican Party has always supported the military, but today they are undermining the military. I think it’s scandalous,” Biden accused at an event organized on July 28 at the US National Archives.

“A growing cascade of damage and failure, all because of one senator from Alabama and 48 Republicans who refuse to stand up to him to lift the blockade of the Pentagon,” the US president added.

Before entering politics, Tuberville was one of the most successful coaches in American football, leading several college teams to titles and being named coach of the year 5 times.

After the 2020 presidential election, he was one of the Republican senators who tried to block the process of certifying Joe Biden’s victory.