The Senate has officially confirmed the new commander of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific, Lt. Gen. Ronald Clark, following months of objections from Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville initially raised concerns about a situation where top military aides, including Clark, failed to promptly inform President Joe Biden when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized earlier this year. Despite Tuberville’s hold on Clark’s nomination, the confirmation finally went through late Tuesday.

In a change of heart, Tuberville decided to drop his objections after personally meeting with Clark and consulting with Pentagon officials. Tuberville had initially demanded to review a report from the Pentagon’s inspector general on the matter of Austin’s hospitalization, but with the report still pending and Congress in recess until after the November election, Tuberville felt compelled to release the nomination hold.

Following his discussion with Clark, Tuberville stated that he found Clark’s explanation consistent with what he had heard from others involved, leading him to trust Clark’s account. The delay in informing President Biden about Secretary Austin’s condition earlier this year had raised bipartisan frustrations in Congress, with concerns about potential implications for military operations during that period.

Despite still harboring concerns about the incident, Tuberville indicated that his conversations with Clark had eased his worries regarding Clark’s personal involvement in the situation. The lapse in communication that kept Biden unaware of Austin’s temporary incapacitation was attributed to privacy protocols and staff hesitancy, according to an earlier Pentagon assessment.

Tuberville’s objection to Clark’s nomination came after a previous instance where he blocked hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy. Following considerable pressure from colleagues across party lines, Tuberville relented on his stance, eventually allowing the promotions to proceed. Republican senators voiced alignment with Tuberville on the abortion policy but urged him to reconsider his holds due to their impact on military readiness and the affected service members and families.