Roger Marshall was Senate's only 'no' vote on two top military confirmations. Here's why
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After attending a pair of Veterans Day events in Topeka on Friday, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall explained his recent votes in Congress where the Kansas Republican was the only senator to oppose the confirmations of two top military officers.
"When it comes to overseeing our military, we need the very best," Marshall told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "And I don't care whether it's a man or woman or what color their skin is. ... I think this is just the next rendition of him appointing not the most qualified person, but choosing a person based upon their skin color or their sexuality or their gender. I just think it's wrong."
On Nov. 2, Marshall was the only senator to vote no in the 95-1 confirmations of Adm. Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations and Gen. David Allvin as Air Force chief of staff. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., voted for both.
Franchetti is the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy, the first woman to hold a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the second woman to be promoted to a four-star admiral.
Marshall did vote to confirm Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney as the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, who was confirmed 86-0. Moran did not vote. Mahoney is the military branch's No. 2 leader, but will also perform the duties of the commandant after Gen. Eric Smith was hospitalized, reportedly for a heart attack.
Marshall was in Topeka on Friday, serving breakfast for a Veterans Day meal at the HyVee grocery store at S.W. 29th and Wanamaker before speaking at the dedication of Washburn University's newest veteran memorial.
He told attendees that veterans memorials across the state are an inspiration to him.
"I always try to stop at each one of those memorials," he said. "It reminds me of why I'm doing this job, why I'm serving."
Marshall is a former Army Reserve captain, and has had multiple family members serve in the military. He broke down in tears while speaking at the event, sharing: "My son is leaving for overseas soon. I understand the sacrifice families make, too."
He still had tears in his eyes when speaking with The Capital-Journal afterward and explained his confirmation votes.
"The military should be focused on military readiness for defending this nation," Marshall said. "This President is more focused on pronouns than he is on making sure that we have a military that's ready to protect us.
"In one instance, he chose a person that was not even recommended by the secretary of defense. So Joe Biden bypassed the secretary of defense's recommendation to give a person who was less qualified that position based upon diversity and inclusion issues."
Franchetti wasn't the recommendation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who had suggested Adm. Samuel Paparo. But national media reports indicate Franchetti, who was already serving in the Navy's No. 2 position as vice chief of operations, was widely expected to get the promotion to the No. 1 spot.
Franchetti, who has 38 years of experience as a commissioned officer, previously led the U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Korea.
"Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas," Biden said in a July statement on the nomination.
Biden also nominated Paparo to lead Indo-Pacific Command, saying that he has "significant experience serving in the Indo-Pacific, where our military strength is critical to ensuring the security and stability of this vital region of the world."
Allvin was the Air Force's No. 2 officer as vice chief of staff and also has extensive command experience.
Marshall tied such decisions to military recruitment and retention challenges
"It's because of the horrible leadership out of the White House and picking people to lead our Pentagon who aren't the most qualified," he said. "The soldiers see it. We're not blind; we're not dumb. We see that he's not picking the most qualified, and it's very harmful to morale to see that my efforts and my merits are not going to be honored."
Marshall's votes comes as U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., continues his blockade of over 300 military promotions. Tuberville is protesting a Pentagon abortion policy to pay for travel of troops obtaining abortions, but not to pay for the procedure.
Marshall said he stands with Tuberville.
"So what Joe Biden did and what the Pentagon's policy is broke the law," he said. "There are laws against spending federal dollars on abortions. This is a fight picked by the White House and one that they could easily solve, and there's other ways to get these confirmations done without unanimous consent. The White House could have solved this problem.
"My personal opinion is it's not harmed our military readiness yet. I think the bigger issue, the biggest harm coming to our military readiness is Joe Biden and his choosing diversity over military readiness."
Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Roger Marshall explains 'no' votes on Navy admiral, Air Force general
