"Defense Secretary Austin warns of military readiness risk due to Republican hold on nominations"

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has criticized the ongoing hold on senior military promotions and nominations in the Senate led by Republican lawmakers, calling it "irresponsible" and "unprecedented." The hold is in protest of new reproductive health policies instituted throughout the US military, which among other things provide leave and travel allowances for troops or their families who must travel to receive an abortion. Austin warned that the hold on nominations would negatively impact military readiness and throw a wrench into an otherwise routine system of promotions and moving families to new assignments, and could potentially force "out units to operate with less experienced decision makers in charge."