More than 300 nominees and officers are being held back by Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) blanket hold on all DOD confirmations and promotions. The Senate could begin a drawn-out process of considering the nominees and promotion candidates individually, but each could take hours or days.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) indicated Wednesday that he will not take that route, even for the most senior nominee, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown. He’s nominated to take over as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair when Gen. Mark Milley’s term expires at the end of the month.

“This is a problem created by Republicans, and it’s up to them to solve it,” Schumer told reporters, according to Punchbowl News.

Tuberville objects to the Pentagon’s policy to give time off and cover travel expenses for service members who need to leave the state for abortions.

If the blockade continues through the end of the calendar year, almost 90% of the military’s general and flag officers could be held up, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said Wednesday, as Military Times reported. The Air Force is the service currently most affected by the blockade, Military.com reported, with another added to the list this week when Lt. Gen. James Slife was nominated to become vice chief.

Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich