Forcing thousands of California National Guard soldiers to repay their enlistment bonuses is a “boneheaded decision,” Rep. Duncan Hunter said in a letter to the defense secretary.
The California Republican wrote Sunday that it is “disgraceful and insulting” that the Pentagon is asking these National Guardsmen to repay bonuses that were paid either in excess or because of Defense Department errors.
“I find it difficult to believe that either you or your leadership team was aware that such a boneheaded decision was made to demand repayment,” Hunter wrote to Defense Secretary Ash Carter in the letter, which was released on Monday. “I ask that you utilize your authority to influence a solution, including a possible legislative fix if determined necessary, that’s in the best interest of the individuals and families impacted.”
Army Master Sgt. Tony Jaffe was convicted in 2011 of awarding more than $20 million in bonuses to service members who did not quality to improve recruitment and retention numbers. The troops had no idea when they were paid the bonuses that they were improper and are now facing collection agencies and wage garnishment to pay back the government.
Hunter wrote that troops are also facing interest charges and tax liens as they struggle to repay the bonuses, and said that they should not be under any burden of reimbursing the government for its mistake.
“This is especially true with the understanding of the financial hardship that repayment has caused for many individuals and families, most of them who faithfully upheld their commitment to service,” the letter reads.
The Pentagon is urging the troops to apply for a waiver since the debts can be forgiven only on a case-by-case basis after individual review.
