Three Military Branches Without Chiefs for First Time

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday relinquished his command on Monday, leaving three of the nation's Armed Services without a Senate-confirmed chief for the first time in U.S. history.

Adm. Lisa Franchetti, nominated by President Joe Biden to lead the Navy, takes over in an acting capacity.

In addition to the Navy, the Army and Marine Corps are also with confirmed heads.

At issue is that Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., continues to hold up the promotions and confirmations of more than 300 senior military officers in protest of the Pentagon's abortion policy. When the Pentagon ceases to allow for paid leave and travel reimbursement for service members to get an abortion, a violation of the Hyde Act, according to Tuberville, he will release his holds.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed the holds at Gilday's relinquishment ceremony on Monday at the United State Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

"Because of this blanket hold, starting today, for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders," Austin said. "This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe."

Tuberville's office responded with a statement of their own in response to Austin, saying that Senate-confirmed leaders "are being done."

"My holds are NOT affecting national security."

Former Army Chief of Staff James McConville stepped down on Aug. 4, and former Marine Corps Commandant David Berger relinquished last month.

"This particular stand is necessary because the Biden administration has shown that, unless held accountable, they will continue to violate the law and use our tax dollars to promote an extreme left wing agenda," Tuberville's office said.

There will be more than 600 officers across the branches up for nomination by the end of the year, including Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, expected to replace Army Gen. Mark Milley as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Once confirmed, Franchetti would be the first woman to take over as chief of naval operations and the first on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gen. Randy George is acting Army chief of staff and Gen. Eric Smith is acting Marine Corps commandant.

• Sen. Tuberville to Newsmax: Military Holds Schumer's, Not Mine
• Pentagon Tries to 'Mitigate' Holds by Sen. Tuberville