Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke for the first time since the senator began his protest.

The conversation is the first since Tuberville began holding up staff and general officer nominations and promotions for several months over his objection to the policy. A source confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the two talked via phone, in what Tuberville described as a "productive" conversation.

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"Coach said he’s grateful for the cordial and productive conversation and looks forward to continuing dialogue in the near future," YHN reporter Grayson Everett tweeted, referring to Tuberville, which was confirmed by his team.

Though it wasn't revealed what was discussed between the two, the conversation is a significant step forward, after both sides signaled they would not budge on the issue. Austin and Tuberville agreed to speak again next week, according to Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder.

"There's no chance of changing my position if we don't sit down and visit," Tuberville told CNN on Thursday morning. "I mean, that's what you do up here, supposedly. I'm sure [Biden] did that over his career in the Senate. But he doesn't want to do it. We won't do it. We just keep going."

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The two had exchanged blows again Thursday morning, with Biden claiming that Tuberville was acting "bizarre" for injecting social issues into discussions of national security.

"You know, he called me everything he wants, but we need to get this worked out," Tuberville responded. "And, uh, you know I’ve been called a lot of names in my career anyway, so we won't worry about that. But when he gets back, wants to sit down and visit, I'm glad to do it."