Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is today increasing pressure on the Department of Defense to return bonuses to veterans who’ve already repaid them as part of the bonus clawback scandal exposed by theLA Times earlier last week.
In a letter to Under Secretary Levine, Congressman Issa demands that the California National Guard work expeditiously to return the monies which soldiers have already repaid under the bonus clawback program.
Though the Department of Defense agreed to suspend further collection efforts last week, the Department still has not put forth a plan for returning monies to soldiers who’ve already unfairly repaid them.
“The Guards’ own inept actions and lack of oversight created this debacle. The government has instead forced many of our war-fighters to deplete their life savings, take on more debt by refinancing their homes, and ruined their credit.”
“You have a duty to make the victims whole without delay, which includes compensation for all applicable interest fees and penalties. As such, the Department of Defense must clear these debts and assist with all service member issues related to invalidate the debts,” writes Congressman Issa.
The letter was sent this morning. It can be read in its entirety below and at the link here.
Dear Mr. Levine:
As the member of Congress who represents thousands of Marines and their families stationed at Camp Pendleton, I work on behalf of the service members and veterans in our community. Therefore, I request the California National Guard immediately act to fully reimburse and compensate soldiers who accepted payments in good faith and kept their commitment when they volunteered to protect our country.
In light of recent revelations that unveiled the mismanagement and fraudulent activities of the California National Guard’s incentive programs, it would reasonable to assume that the Guard would expeditiously offer a solution and eliminate the burden place on military members. In contrast, the Guard has refused to accept wholesale responsibility for their failures, attempted to shift the blame, and offered only bureaucratic indifference, which is unacceptable at best.
I believe in holding both individuals and organizations accountable for their actions. Any person or group that schemes and defrauds the government should face consequences. However, the Department of Defense has acknowledged that the vast majority of service members who received bonus and retention payments accepted the payments in good faith and fulfilled their commitment to serve. Therefore, those individuals should not face hardship as a result of the actions of others.
The Guards’ own inept actions and lack of oversight created this debacle. The government has instead forced many of our war-fighters to deplete their life savings, take on more debt by refinancing their homes, and ruined their credit.
You have a duty to make the victims whole without delay, which includes compensation for all applicable interest fees and penalties. As such, the Department of Defense must clear these debts and assist with all service member issues related to invalidate the debts.
If this continues my congressional colleagues and I will act to compel and force you to honor your commitments, just as the soldiers honored theirs. I respectfully request a detailed, substantive, and realistic solution to be delivered promptly.
Sincerely,
Darrell Issa
Member of Congress
