Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) about-face on holding up more than 400 military promotions for months because of Pentagon policies relating to reproductive care for servicemembers does not include nominees to four-star status, including the presumptive head of the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed more than 400 military officials after Tuberville, a Republican of Alabama released his hold on those nominations. The senator objects to the Pentagon policy of paying travel expenses for military servicemembers who are stationed in states that restrict abortion and other reproductive care and travel to states where such care is available.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Wednesday told CNN that he expects the Senate will confirm the remaining four-star nominations still being blocked by Tuberville before the chamber adjourns for the holidays.
In May, Vice Adm. William Houston, the head of the Navy’s submarine fleet, was nominated to take over the Department of Energy-led nuclear naval reactor program. He would be elevated to the rank of admiral, the Navy equivalent of a four-star general, once approved to take over those duties.
Adm. James Caldwell has held the post since 2015, overseeing six shipyards and the development of nuclear propulsion reactors for the Navy and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He officially serves as the deputy NNSA administrator for nuclear reactors.
Houston is a 1990 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a career submariner. At sea he’s served aboard at least four nuclear attack boats, according to his official Navy biography.
Also on the list of four-star nominees who require individual Senate approval to assume their new ranks are the commander of Pacific Air Forces, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, the top officer for Air Force Air Combat Command, the air component commander for the Indo-Pacific region, the head of U.S. Northern Command that oversees continental U.S. missile defense, the head of U.S. Cyber Command, and the vice chiefs of staff of the Army, Air Force, Space Force and Navy.
This story first appeared in Defense Daily affiliate publication Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.