Congresswoman Hahn Urges Pentagon to Halt Clawback Efforts Against California National Guard Veterans

Oct 24, 2016 Issues: Defense and National Security, Veterans

San Pedro, CA—Today, Congresswoman Janice Hahn (CA-44) sent a letter to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon, General Joseph Lemgyel, urging him to halt ongoing efforts to clawback decade-old overpayments made to California National Guard members. Many veterans have been told they owe tens of thousands of dollars which they do not have.

“These are men and women who answered the call of duty and served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and whose only mistake was accepting money they were told was theirs,” wrote Congresswoman Hahn.  “In the midst of chaos and war, these soldiers were not responsible for the sloppy accounting done by leadership at both the Pentagon and California National Guard. I understand that your policy is to have overpayments returned, however over a decade later it is unfair and unjust.”

Congresswoman Hahn asked that the Pentagon waive these debts and issue apologies to the affected veterans. She also wrote that should the Pentagon determine that an act of Congress is needed to fix this problem, she stands ready to work with her colleagues to find a solution.