Army, Marines Both Lack Confirmed Leaders for the First Time Amid Impasse Over Pentagon’s Abortion Policy

Army chief's retirement brings second joint chiefs vacancy amid Tuberville hold

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Dec. 3, 2019 in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville retired on Friday, opening the second vacancy on the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff as Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) continues to delay the process for confirming military nominees.

The general relinquished his command as the top U.S. Army officer at a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. With Mr. McConville’s retirement, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps now lack senate-confirmed chiefs of staff.