Joe Biden denied Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recommendation for acting chief of the US Navy. Instead of Austin’s recommendation, Adm. Samuel Paparo – the current commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, Biden chose to nominate Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy.

Shocker, I know, that Biden would ignore advice from the military leadership and go his own way. We all remember the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The report from the investigation into that horrible time showed that Biden did not take the advice of military leaders and advisers and thirteen American military service members were killed. Hundreds of Afghans were injured during the terrorist attack on the final day of evacuation. Tuesday is the second anniversary of that day.

Franchetti will make history as the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joe Biden is obsessed with identity politics and that is a detriment to the administration. This isn’t to say that Adm. Franchetti isn’t qualified for the job. It is to say that it is an unprecedented choice that goes against the recommendation of his secretary of defense. She isn’t the first choice for the job. She serves as vice chief of naval operations. She was considered a top pick for the role since she was the Navy’s No. 2 officer.

It is unclear why Austin chose Paparo over Franchetti. The unprecedented choice would make her the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief. Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Ryan Perry said it was “a presidential decision.” 

‘The United States Navy has several highly qualified senior leaders, and it would be inappropriate to speculate which leader the president will nominate to serve as the next chief of naval operations,’ Perry said.

Franchetti, has broad command and executive experience and ‘was considered by insiders to be the top choice for the job,’ according to the Associated Press in July.

In a statement, Biden emphasized the historical significance of her selection and said ‘throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas.’

Franchetti is one of over 300 military officers whose nominations are on hold in the Senate following challenges from Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville has stalled military promotions and nominations for eight months because he is fighting against a new Pentagon policy that would allow the Pentagon to go around the Hyde Amendment in order to pay for the expenses for women in the military to travel to get an abortion. Tuberville’s hold will be in place, he said, until the new policy at least receives a vote in the Senate.

All Chuck Schumer has to do is call a vote in the Senate and Tuberville will be satisfied. Schumer must know he doesn’t have the votes.

Franchetti said she will move forward with the Chief of Naval Ops. Adm. Mike Gilday’s push to modernize the Navy.

‘Your vision and transformational leadership these past four years has laid the foundation on which we are building our Navy’s readiness for today while designing the fleet of tomorrow,’ Franchetti said speaking at the Naval Academy in Maryland.

‘We look to the horizon and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, I will act with a sense of urgency to ensure our sailors have everything they need to maintain our warfighting edge,’ she added.

Austin used his speech at the “relinquishment of office” ceremony to grouse about Tuberville’s action, without naming his name.

‘This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe,’ he said.

‘This sweeping hold is undermining America’s military readiness. It’s hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And it’s upending the lives of far too many American military families.’

 

Austin brought it on himself. He was the one who changed the policy in his desire to transform the military.

During the relinquishment of command, Franchetti read, “When there is a vacancy in the office of the chief of naval operations, the vice chief of naval operations shall perform the duties of the CNO until its successor is appointed.”

Tuberville’s office responded Monday by saying the senator was “not blocking votes — he’s forcing votes.”

 

It is not known when Franchetti’s nomination will be taken up in the Senate.