In a move to circumvent Senator Tommy Tuberville's blockade against senior military promotions, the Senate confirmed General Randy George of the Army and General Eric Smith of the Marines as chiefs of staff of their respective services. This action follows the confirmation of General Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. While these confirmations were a step forward, there are still hundreds of military promotions left in limbo.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader, had been working to find a way around Senator Tuberville's long-standing roadblock. Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, had halted military promotions in protest of the Pentagon's policy on abortion access. However, Tuberville made it clear that he would not lift his blockade unless the Defense Department reversed its policy, which allows service members seeking abortions or reproductive health care to receive time off and travel reimbursement for long-distance travel.

The confirmations seemed to embolden Senator Tuberville, as he expressed his intention to continue his obstruction unless the policy was changed. He suggested that Senator Schumer continue to consider promotions one by one, which would be a time-consuming process that both Democrats and many Republicans consider untenable. This development has caused frustration among Democrats, who believe that blanket holds on military nominees should not be permitted.

Republicans, on the other hand, hope that the approval of three senior generals will help end the standoff. Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, believes that even small progress can spur action to solve the broader problem. Sullivan has been working with senior Democratic senators, including Jack Reed of Rhode Island, to negotiate a deal to lift the blockade. However, it remains unclear what compromises both parties would be willing to make.

Schumer has not indicated whether he would use similar maneuvers to advance additional high-profile military promotions. Reed expressed concern about further accommodating Tuberville's protest, stating that it would politicize the military and turn them into bargaining chips in policy wars that they have no control over.

In the midst of these negotiations, the Senate was expected to confirm three generals to serve on the president's top military advisory council. Schumer aimed to force votes on confirming General Eric Smith, General Randy George, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, this move left hundreds of military promotions still in limbo due to Tuberville's objections.

Schumer had previously been reluctant to force votes on individual nominees, fearing that he would be seen as capitulating to Tuberville's demands. Tuberville has been blocking promotions of senior generals and admirals in an effort to reverse the Pentagon's abortion access policy. Despite the quick approvals of the three generals, Tuberville vowed to continue his push to do away with the policy.

The Pentagon implemented the policy earlier this year to provide equal access to reproductive healthcare for service members, regardless of their location. It offers time off and travel reimbursement for service members who need to travel out of state to receive abortion or fertility services.

While Schumer has the power to force votes on individual promotions, doing so for the hundreds that are pending would be a time-consuming process. It remains to be seen if he will continue to hold such votes in the future.