The US Senate has taken an unusual step to bypass a Republican’s blockade of senior military appointments in protest over a Pentagon abortion policy.
Top US military vacancies are usually filled in large groups, but over 300 nominees have been held up by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.
The Senate is now confirming three positions on a one-by-one basis after resisting that option for months in the hope Mr Tuberville would back down.
His one-man blockade began in February.
Typically, the upper congressional chamber fast-tracks and confirms military nominations all together at once with bipartisan support, via a process known as unanimous consent.