Marine Corps without a confirmed leader for the first time in a century

General David Berger on Monday finished his four-year term as commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and left the position without a Senate-confirmed successor for the first time since 1910. In March, Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., began blocking all nominations for senior military positions after the Defense Department introduced a policy giving service members leave and travel allowances to have abortions. Tuberville has said the policy violates federal law. Assistant commandant for the Marines, General Eric Smith, has been nominated to replace Berger and begun the role unofficially. Senate rules allow any member to withhold an item from consideration on the floor.

How many positions are affected by the block? Tuberville has held up hundreds of military promotions that require Senate confirmation. Five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must leave their posts soon, including Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley. President Joe Biden nominated Milley’s successor, but the position is subject to Tuberville’s hold.

Dig deeper: Read Katelyn Walls Shelton’s column in WORLD Opinions about the Department of Defense policy.