Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told Republican colleagues he will try to force a one-off vote on the Senate floor to confirm Gen. Eric Smith as commandant of the Marine Corps, The Hill reported. The move would be a way to get around Tuberville’s own hold on hundreds of promotions and nominations in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion access policy.

Smith is currently serving as acting commandant and as assistant commandant.

Meanwhile, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Tuesday she’s concerned about the “longer-term downstream effects” of the overall blockade.

“Our majors, our lieutenant colonels, our colonels are looking at this, and, I think, saying, ‘Do I want to put my family through this… if this is what happens when you become a general officer? Maybe I’d rather retire now and go and work in industry or work in some other area,” she said at a CSIS event, according to Stars and Stripes.

Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox