Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has issued guidance to the military workforce for the first time about how Pentagon leadership roles will likely need to be reshuffled as a result of the Republican Sen. Tommy Tubervilles hold on military confirmations . The last official commandant of the Marine Corps retired late last month . Chief of staff of the Army Gen. James McConville retired without an official replacement on Friday marking the second branch of the military without a confirmed leader . Tuberville issued a blanket hold on the confirmations in protest of the Pentagons reproductive health policies . The Missile Defense Agency the entity responsible for developing the US layered defense against ballistic missiles currently has a star serving in an acting capacity for a star general who has been nominated for the post . The agency is without a Senateconfirmed director for theFirst time since it was established in the official said . In a sign of the growing challenges the military faces because of the ongoing holds the Acting Commandant wrote a letter to the force setting out his vision and expectations for the service in lieu of official guidance for the force in a letter issued Thursday . General Eric Smith wrote the letter in a page letter . He is carrying out the role in an . acting capacity as his confirmation as his commandant as his . confirmation remains on hold . He was nominated to serve as the next Commandant but he is carrying in the . Marine Corps but he wrote a page of his own letter on Thursday . The Marine Corps. Smith was nominated as the . commandant for the . letter . The letter . to the Marine . He said he was nominated in an act in an operating role in a . summary of his confirmation to the Marines. He wrote a statement to the Force. It is intended to leave
Defense secretary issues new memo on how to reshuffle Pentagon leadership roles amid Tuberville
