Tuberville says he'll drop hold on most military promotions.

Senator Tommy Tuberville has announced that he will release some of his holds on officer promotions, ending a 9-month protest that failed to reduce troops' access to abortion but left the U.S. military understaffed in senior positions. However, Tuberville will continue to hold nominations for four-star positions, preventing the military from filling 11 top posts. The Defense Department is encouraged by this news but acknowledges that complications may arise as people move into new positions. Since Tuberville's hold in February, 455 senior officers have had their advancements delayed, causing leadership positions to remain empty or filled by temporary personnel. Tuberville's actions have been criticized by Pentagon leaders for reducing readiness and hurting military families. The senator's hold was placed eight months after the Supreme Court eliminated women's right to an abortion, which led to several states restricting access to reproductive health care. The new abortion restrictions have negatively impacted recruiting and retention in the military. Tuberville's hold delayed several hundred promotions and left the Marine Corps without a confirmed commandant for the first time in over a century. However, Gen. Eric Smith was confirmed as commandant in September, and other military branches have also had confirmed leaders appointed. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed criticized Tuberville's actions, stating that they jeopardized national security and abused the rights of senators. [Extracted from the article]