Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered that procedures be streamlined so California National Guardsmen who received bonuses as a result of error or through the criminal behavior of others can seek relief. Carter ordered the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to suspend all efforts to collect reimbursement from the affected California National Guard members. A team will assess the problem and put in place a streamlined, centralized process "that ensures the rapid resolution of these cases," Carter said. The deadline for this process to be in place is Jan. 1. "The objective will be to complete the decision-making process on all cases as soon as possible — and no later than July 1, 2017." For the latest developments in this story, see this Military.com article and read Secretary Carter's statement on the U.S. Army website.