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Lisa Franchetti, currently deputy to the current Navy chief
Photo: ERIC R. DIETRICH / AFP
President Joe Biden wants to place a woman at the head of the US Navy for the first time in the history of the United States. Biden nominated Lisa Franchetti to lead the U.S. Navy on Friday, the White House announced.
In the event of her confirmation by the Senate, the 59-year-old would be the first woman in this role and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the US military, according to the government headquarters. She is currently deputy to current Navy chief Michael Gilday, who is about to retire.
A senator blocks
In the U.S., such appointments must be approved by the Senate. However, one of the senators in the House of Representatives, Republican Tommy Tuberville, has been blocking hundreds of military nominations for some time in protest against a Defense Department regulation that allows military members to receive certain support in the event of an abortion. The White House criticized Tuberville's blockade as "wrong" and "dangerous" from a national security point of view.
The background to this is that the US Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion just over a year ago. Since then, abortions have been banned in several US states or only allowed with significant restrictions. Therefore, the Pentagon covers the costs if an abortion requires a trip to another state. Tuberville is bothered by this approach.
In the U.S. Senate, unanimity is required for many formal procedures. Therefore, even a single member of the Senate can stop certain processes, as was the case with the Marine Corps. In mid-July, the commander David Berger resigned on a rotational basis. However, his successor and former deputy, Eric Smith, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate, which is why he is now only acting on an interim basis.
kfr/dpa