Senate OK’s new leaders for Army, Marines
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to make General Randy A. George the next Army chief of staff and Eric M. Smith the next commandant of the Marine Corps, confirming two more senior military officers whose promotions had been stalled by Senator Tommy Tuberville amid a prolonged dispute over a Pentagon abortion policy.
With the votes to allow George and Smith to officially step into their new positions, the Senate has approved three of President Biden’s military nominees since Wednesday despite Tuberville’s virtual blockade. But more than 300 other senior officers remain ensnared in the Alabama Republican’s months-long hold on promotions with no clear path to immediate advancement in most cases.
Typically, senior officer promotions are approved in blocs by the Senate through unanimous consent to avoid lengthy floor debates and the politicization of votes around military commanders. But Tuberville has utilized Senate rules to block swift approval of such promotions.
He doubled down on his promise Wednesday night to continue with the tactic after Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, chose to peel away three senior military nominations for individual votes under the chamber’s cloture rules.
George, 58, has served as vice chief of staff of the Army since August 2022, and as the service’s acting chief since last month, when General James McConville stepped down. George previously served as a senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He also has commanded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Smith, 58, has served as the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since October 2021, and as the service’s acting administrator since July, when General David Berger stepped down as commandant to retire. Smith previously commanded US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Pacific. During the Obama administration, he also served as a senior military assistant to then-Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, a position that he has said gave him a better appreciation for how different parts of the Pentagon collaborate and at times compete for resources.
On Wednesday night, the Senate confirmed Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Schumer teed up an individual vote on his nomination as well.