Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in response to social media reports indicating that a separating member of the 82nd Airborne Division was personally charged $3,561 for military equipment he was ordered to leave behind during President Joe Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021. Congressman Biggs’s letter requests information to determine whether this is a widespread issue for servicemembers who were deployed to Afghanistan during the 2021 withdrawal.
“Our courageous servicemembers ought to be treated with dignity for their service and not slapped with an expensive bill,” said Congressman Biggs.
“We need to get to the bottom of what happened with this servicemember and ensure that he and others are not financially penalized for following orders.
“Secretary Austin must provide us answers and ensure that our servicemembers are treated fairly.”
Cosigners of the letter are: Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Rep. Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (R-AZ), Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale Sr. (R-MT), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Rep. Randy K. Weber (R-TX).
The letter may be read here.
