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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama has told the Defense Department that it must ensure service members instructed to repay enlistment bonuses are being treated fairly and expeditiously.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the president only recently become aware of Pentagon demands that some soldiers repay their enlistment bonuses after audits revealed overpayments by the California National Guard. If soldiers refuse, they could face interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens.
Earnest says he did not believe the president was prepared to support a blanket waiver of those repayments, but he said "we're not going to nickel and dime" service members when they get back from serving the country. He says they should not be held responsible for fraud perpetrated by others.
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