Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have asked the California National Guard to turn over documents related to illegal bonuses given to military personnel more than a decade ago that they may now have to repay, in effort to ensure those responsible for the mixup are held accountable.
In a letter sent to Gen. Joseph Lengyel at the National Guard Bureau, and Adjutant Gen. David Baldwin of the California National Guard, the lawmakers cited news reports showing that nearly 10,000 soldiers “have been ordered to repay bonuses in excess of $15,000.” Those payments were initially required after audits showed the bonuses and student loan repayments were unwittingly received by people who didn’t qualify for them.
Mismanagement is being blamed — Army Master Sgt. Tony Jaffe was convicted in 2011 for overseeing $20 million in bonuses as a method of boosting retention numbers.
“The Committee is seeking information about this serious matter, and to see that officials who mismanaged bonus programs are held accountable,” the letter said.
Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and others asked for all audits of bonus overpayments produced since 2002, all documents outlining how much was overpaid, and information about how soldiers can appeal demands for them to repay those bonuses. Lawmakers also asked for the National Guard to brief the committee no later than Nov. 7.
Republican California Rep. Kevin McCarthy denied reports that the House knew about the Pentagon’s plans to demand repayment from the many soldiers who live paycheck to paycheck, and gave his assurances that he is taking legislative and investigative action in response to the scandal.
The Pentagon has said military leaders are aware of the problem, and are working to help veterans apply for a waiver from the demand to repay the bonuses they received.
