Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith has been hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency on Sunday evening.
The Marine Corps announced Smith’s hospitalization on Monday but did not provide any details about what happened or his current condition.
UAW AND GENERAL MOTORS REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, is currently serving as acting commandant of the Marine Corps for the interim.
By law, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps would take over if the commandant cannot fulfill the duties, but the position remains unfilled. President Joe Biden nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney to be the next assistant commandant in August, but his nomination has not been voted on by the Senate.
Mahoney’s nomination is one of more than 300 that have been held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville‘s (R-AL) protest against the Department of Defense’s policy regarding abortions. In particular, following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, the department announced a new policy that would reimburse service members or their dependents for the travel expenses incurred if they have to travel out of state for a non-covered reproductive healthcare procedure like an abortion.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Tuberville and other Republicans have accused the department of overstepping its authority with the policy, even though the department maintains that its goal is to ensure all service members have equal access to healthcare.
Smith’s nomination was one of the three that the Senate was able to vote on in September and ultimately confirm. Tuberville is blocking the Senate’s normal process of confirming military promotions and nominations in bunches, while the Senate does have a workaround, though it is a much more timely process.
