The Senate has appointed three top military leaders, filling the posts after months of delays and, as a Republican senator, is still holding up hundreds of other nominations and promotions for senior officers.

On Thursday afternoon, Gen. Randy George was confirmed as Army chief of staff, and Gen. Eric Smith was confirmed as commander of the U.S. Marine Corps. On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of this month.

The Democrats are still trying to maneuver around the more than 300 nominations

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Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama on the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Tuberville has blocked the Senate from conducting the routine process of approving military nominations in batches, forcing Democrats to advance the nominations one at a time, a process that could take months and delay other priorities.

The Senate usually holds roll call votes to confirm top Pentagon leaders such as Brown, George and Smith. But promotions and nominations at lower ranks are always approved in large groups by unanimous consent, meaning there are no objections from senators. Tuberville has upended that tradition by objecting, and he has said he will continue to object unless the Pentagon reverses its new policy of paying for travel when a service member must leave the state to get an abortion or other receive reproductive care.

In an effort to force Tuberville’s hand, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer had originally said he would not move any of the nominations, including top leaders, until Tuberville lifted the hold. But Tuberville has dug in, repeatedly coming out to object to the nominations.

On Wednesday, Schumer changed course and said the Senate would vote on the three military leaders. Senator Tuberville is forcing us to confront his obstruction head-on, Schumer said.

The other two nominated service leaders for the Navy and Air Force have not yet received votes. Adm. Lisa Franchetti is the current Vice Chief of the Navy and General David W. Allvin is the Vice Chief of the Air Force. Franchetti is currently acting chief.

The blockade has frustrated members on both sides of the aisle and it is still unclear how the larger impasse will be resolved. Schumer did not say whether he would bring up additional nominations.

George, nominated by the President

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Biden was confirmed in April on a 96-1 vote. He is the current vice chief of staff as well as a highly decorated infantry officer who has commanded at all levels and served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has focused on efforts to modernize the Army and revamp recruiting as the service expects to fall short of its recruiting goal this year.

Smith is a highly decorated Navy officer who has been involved in transforming the force to improve its ability to wage amphibious warfare in the Pacific after years of fighting terrorist groups in the Middle East. He was confirmed by a vote of 96-0.

Smith, nominated by Biden in May, is the assistant commander and a career infantry officer who has commanded at every level and served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, including time in Fallujah and Ramadi during heavy fighting in 2004 and 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A large number of military officers have spoken out about the damage the delays are doing to soldiers at all levels. While Tuberville’s grip is on all generals and flag officers, the delays are blocking opportunities for more junior officers to take off.

Shortly after the Senate vote, George was sworn in by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

While this is a great day for the military, I am acutely aware that the appointments of hundreds of apolitical military officers in the Senate are still blocked by a blanket waiting list, Wormuth said, adding that the waiting lists are still blocked.

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A disheartening sign for the talented junior and field officers contemplating their future as senior Army leaders.

After Brown was confirmed, Defense Secretary Lloyd said

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Austin

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said the holds endanger national security and military preparedness.

“It is well past time to confirm the more than 300 other military nominees,” Austin said in a statement.

In a private, classified Senate briefing on the war in Ukraine Wednesday evening, Austin again took the opportunity to criticize Tuberville’s assets.

It wasn’t a flutter, but I’m sure he’s a little disgusted by what’s going on, Tuberville said Thursday. It doesn’t bother me.