Pentagon seeks to increase pressure on Tuberville to break hold on military nominations

The Pentagon is seeking to increase pressure on Sen. Tommy Tuberville in an attempt to break the Alabama Republican's one-man hold on hundreds of senior military nominations.

The effort includes back-channel conversations with Congress and members of the key oversight committees, but also a public campaign to increase awareness of the effects of the holds on the military and its families.

"Hill leadership knows this is a problem," a Defense official told CNN.

As of July 7, Tuberville's hold was impacting 265 senior military officers. An internal assessment put together by the Pentagon and obtained by CNN says the holds affect the families of 84 officers awaiting confirmation, including officers who have paid out of pocket to move their families, military spouses who have left their jobs anticipating new assignments, and children unable to enroll in new schools.

The Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, highlighted several of these examples at a press briefing Monday.

"This is having an incredible impact not just to our general and flag officers but to our families," Singh said, "and we certainly urge Senator Tuberville to lift these holds."

The assessment has been shared with lawmakers and is expected to be updated weekly as the number of holds grows. By the end of the year, Defense officials expect more than 600 senior officers to be up for nomination, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and other top military leaders.