Chuck DarwinUS Marines without leader for first time in 150 years as Republican blocks nomination
The commandant of the US Marine Corps, Gen David Berger, stepped down on Monday, leaving the military branch without a confirmed leader for the first time in more than 150 years.
The vacancy comes as one Republican senator, #Tommy #Tuberville of Alabama, has staged a months-long #blockade of #Pentagon #nominations to protest against the department’s abortion policies.
Smith’s nomination is one of more than 200 high-level Pentagon nominations that have already been affected by Tuberville’s blockade.
In February, Tuberville launched his campaign of obstruction in response to the Pentagon’s new #policy, enacted after the reversal of Roe v Wade, to #cover #travel #costs for service members or service members’ spouses who have to leave their state to #access #abortion #care.