WASHINGTON (AP) — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking a quick promotion of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's top military aide over concerns that he and other senior staffers did not immediately notify President Joe Biden when Austin was hospitalized earlier this year with complications from cancer treatment.
In July, Biden nominated Lt. Gen. Ronald Clark to lead U.S. Army forces in the Pacific. But Clark has faced criticism from Republicans for his role as a top aide to Austin when the defense secretary was hospitalized in January and failed to inform Biden or other U.S. leaders.
Republicans said the fact that Biden was kept in the dark about Austin hasn't been in command for several days. This could lead to confusion or delays in military operations, even though decision-making authority was delegated to the Deputy Minister of Defense.
Tuberville took office a year after colleagues in both parties sharply criticized him for holding up hundreds of military promotions over the Pentagon's abortion policy. 425 military promotions and appointments were finally approved in November after Tuberville gave in.
Republican colleagues said they agreed with Tuberville on abortion policy, but openly pressured him to give up the takeoversexpressing concern about the military's readiness and the consequences it is having on service members and their families that have nothing to do with the rules.
Tuberville spokeswoman Hannah Eddins said Tuesday the senator was concerned about Clark's role during Austin's hospitalization, including his failure to brief Biden. She said Tuberville was awaiting a report from the Pentagon inspector general who would look into the matter.
“As the senior officer, Lieutenant General Clark is required by his oath of office to notify the President of the United States if the chain of command is breached,” Eddins said, using the acronym for the president of the United States.
A majority of Democrats could still put Clark's nomination to a vote, but holding on to Tuberville would likely delay his confirmation, as it would take several days to confirm him. The nomination would expire when the congressional session ended, and the next president would have to renominate Clark or someone else for the post if he is not confirmed by early January.
Pentagon spokesman James Adams said the new takeover of Tuberville, first reported by The Washington Post, “undermines our military readiness.”
“Lieutenant General Clark is highly qualified and was nominated for this important position because of his experience and strategic expertise,” Adams said in a statement. “We urge the Senate to confirm all of our qualified nominees.”
Austin has faced bipartisan criticism for initially keeping Biden in the dark about his health issues and hospitalization. Austin was admitted to intensive care on Jan. 1 due to complications from prostate cancer surgery, but the White House did not learn of it until Jan. 4. Austin’s senior staff was notified on Jan. 2.
The defense secretary later said he took full responsibility and apologized to Biden. However, Austin insisted there was no gap in control of the department or the nation’s security because “at all times, either I or the deputy secretary was able to carry out the duties of my office.”
An earlier Pentagon review of the issue cited confidentiality limitations and staff hesitancy as reasons for the secrecy, and called for improved procedures, which have been done.
The White House also laid out a new set of guidelines to ensure it is informed any time a Cabinet chief is unable to do his or her job. The new guidelines include a half-dozen instructions for Cabinet agencies to follow in the event of “delegation of authority,” or when secretaries temporarily hand over their authority to a deputy when they are unavailable due to health issues, travel or other reasons.