The U.S. Senate approved on Thursday the appointment of Admiral Lisa Franchetti as the leader of the U.S. Navy, making her the first woman to hold this position and become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Franchetti’s appointment was confirmed with a majority of 95 votes in favor and one against. She had been serving as acting Navy leader since mid-August due to a Republican senator's obstruction of military nominations over opposition to Pentagon abortion policies.
During her service in the Navy, Franchetti commanded a guided missile destroyer, a fleet of destroyers, and two carrier strike groups. She served as deputy commander of the U.S. naval forces in Europe and later in Africa, in addition to holding the position of deputy chief of naval operations for combat development. In September 2022, she took on the role of deputy chief of naval operations, which is the second-highest position in the Navy.
Typically, Congress quickly and unanimously approves military nominations. However, Senator Tommy Tuberville has been blocking this process for months, requiring the Senate to vote on each nomination individually, a time-consuming process. Tuberville, a Republican senator from Alabama, opposes Pentagon policies that allow servicewomen to receive travel expenses and leave for abortions.
The Pentagon issued guidelines for granting leave and travel allowances earlier this year in response to a 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned the nationwide right to abortion. On Thursday, the White House criticized Tuberville's delay of nominations, stating that it undermines the country's readiness. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, "It is ridiculous that this senator has this kind of influence on our operational readiness," noting that it also affects officers' families. He added that officers "cannot secure schools for their children, buy or rent homes, and have no idea where they will live next. It is utterly absurd."
The Pentagon announced on Monday that 378 candidates for military promotions and appointments have been left in limbo. However, this impasse could be overcome if a resolution proposed by Democratic Senator Jack Reed is approved following the court's decision. The Reed resolution allows military nominations to be considered collectively during the 118th regular session of Congress, which runs until the end of next year, except for officers nominated for leadership positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
