With the retirement of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday, three branches of the US Armed Forces are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders for the first time in American history thanks to blocks put on the nominations of flag and senior officers by Republican Alabama Coach Tommy Tuberville, Reuters reports.
President Joe Biden has nominated Admiral Lisa Franchetti to take over for Gilday, but her historic elevation–she would be the first woman to lead the Navy–is one of more than 300 being blocked by Tuberville, who is holding a one-man protest of Pentagon policy to pay for the travel expenses of military members or their family members who need to travel to obtain a safe abortion.