Gen. Charles Q. Brown, on monitor to be the Pentagon’s subsequent chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, promised a Senate panel Tuesday that he’ll stay nonpartisan and avoid politics throughout his tenure as America’s high navy officer.

Easier mentioned than carried out for a person poised to succeed Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Joint Chiefs chairman who clashed repeatedly with former President Trump and with congressional Republicans throughout his four-year tenure.

Even earlier than Tuesday’s affirmation listening to, Gen. Brown had already waded right into a white-hot combat over the Defense Department’s abortion coverage, underscoring the immense issue as we speak’s high brass are having maintaining the navy out of the partisan fray.

Gen. Brown, at present the Air Force chief of employees, took direct intention on the techniques utilized by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who thrown up a serious parliamentary impediment to tons of of navy nominations in protest of the Pentagon’s new abortion coverage. That coverage, adopted after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade final summer season, gives monetary reimbursement and time without work for feminine service members who should journey out of state for abortions.

Asked immediately concerning the impacts that Sen. Tuberville’s procedural maintain might need on the navy, Gen. Brown didn’t mince phrases.

“We will lose talent” due to the holds, he mentioned, explaining that service members and their households might imagine twice about careers within the navy if they will’t depend on Congress to rapidly approve their nominations and promotions.

Gen. Brown, echoing Gen. Milley, mentioned the consequences will likely be felt all through the ranks.

“There’s aspects of readiness and the transition in leadership for our young service members to know who in the position of leadership is qualified, has the experience to be there,” he mentioned in testimony earlier than the Senate Armed Services Committee. “It has an impact not just for the senior officers but all their staff, and all those below them.”

Mr. Tuberville has insisted that he is not going to raise the maintain till the Pentagon rescinds its accommodative abortion coverage. The Pentagon has given no indication it’s keen to budge on the coverage, which is anticipated to change into a difficulty in the course of the looming 2024 presidential marketing campaign.

With the maintain in place, the Senate can nonetheless advance particular person nominees via a flooring vote, however can not advance batches of nominees directly via a easy voice vote. 

Gen. Brown’s upcoming affirmation is anticipated to be among the many votes that will likely be held up. Mr. Tuberville insists he gained’t again down.

“If we’re not going to vote on taxpayer-funded abortion, then let’s vote on these nominees. Voting is our job. It’s not too much to ask of the United States Senate to do its job — to vote,” he mentioned on the Senate flooring in April.

The subject didn't come up throughout Gen. Brown’s direct alternate with Mr. Tuberville at Tuesday’s listening to. But a number of Democrats used their very own time to blast the Alabama Republican.

“One of my colleagues is exercising a prerogative to place a hold on 250 generals and flag officers. I’m unaware of anything they have done that would warrant them being disrespected or punished or delayed in their careers,” Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia Democrat, mentioned in the course of the listening to. 

House Republicans have proposed reversing the coverage as a part of their fiscal 12 months 2024 protection spending payments. But that provision is unlikely to cross the Democratic-controlled Senate, which is crafting its personal Pentagon funds blueprint.

The combat over the Defense Department’s abortion coverage is only one piece of the GOP’s effort to roll again what they see because the navy’s “woke” agenda, which critics say features a disproportionate give attention to range and inclusion packages, gender ideology, essential race concept, right-wing political extremism and a number of different left-leaning political initiatives on the expense of readiness and lethality.

Pentagon officers have pushed again arduous towards the concept liberal insurance policies are hurting America’s armed forces. Behind the scenes, some protection officers preserve that conservative Republicans in Congress are merely making an attempt to attain political factors by rallying their base behind criticism of a woke navy.

For his half, Gen. Brown pledged to remain out of the political fray.

“The first thing I’d do is set a personal example that I will stay nonpartisan and non-political in how I approach the position as chairman, if confirmed,” he mentioned. “And then I’d set that same expectation throughout the force.” 

Despite that promise, it’s troublesome to think about how Gen. Brown might keep away from these points fully. For instance, Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican, advised Gen. Brown of a scenario in his state during which he mentioned a feminine National Guard member was sharing barracks and toilet services with organic males who recognized as females and began the gender-transition course of.

“This 18-year-old girl was uncomfortable with her situation but had limited options on how to deal with it,” Mr. Rounds mentioned. 

Gen. Brown largely averted addressing specifics of that scenario or others, however he mentioned that it will likely be his job, if confirmed, to verify service members really feel protected and safe.

“One of the things I’ve thought about throughout my career, as you’re being inclusive, you also don’t want to make other individuals uncomfortable. And so, there are areas … [as we] get feedback like this, we have to take a look to see if we can improve how we approach situations like this,” he mentioned. 

Numerous Republicans on the Armed Services Committee pledged their help for Gen. Brown. Outside of Sen. Tuberville’s maintain on nominations, Gen. Brown in any other case is anticipated to have a clean path to affirmation as subsequent Joint Chiefs chairman.

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