{"id":28261,"date":"2018-09-05T23:30:34","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T23:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:18:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:18:05","slug":"commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/native\/navy-federal\/2018\/01\/12\/four-smart-steps-to-reach-your-financial-goals\/\" target=_blank>Financial readiness<\/a> is one of the fundamental tenets of mission readiness. I\u2019ve seen this over a quarter-century as an active-duty Army officer and in civilian service with the Defense Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why I join dozens of military and veterans service organizations, and consumer advocacy groups, all profoundly concerned over recent changes at the federal level that weaken <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2018\/04\/17\/why-your-credit-score-matters-and-how-troops-veterans-and-families-can-up-their-numbers\/\" target=\"_blank\">troops\u2019 protection<\/a> as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2017\/03\/06\/your-move-your-money-make-financial-planning-part-of-the-pcs-process\/\" target=\"_blank\">military consumers <\/a>in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/native\/navy-federal\/2017\/12\/18\/4-key-ways-to-your-2018-financial-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\">financial marketplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recognizing the need for these protections, our nation established the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/home-hq\/2018\/03\/20\/scra-and-military-moves-what-you-need-to-know\/\" target=_blank>Servicemembers Civil Relief Act<\/a>, which forbids certain financial actions against active-duty service members, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/pay-benefits\/2018\/08\/16\/senators-urge-consumer-protection-agency-not-to-abandon-duty-to-protect-troops-families\/\" target=_blank>Military Lending Act<\/a>, which prevents financial companies from charging interest in excess of 36 percent annual interest on most consumer loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While much ground has been gained in recent years through improvements to these laws and consumer protections generally, recent developments \u2014 especially those in the CFPB and Education Department \u2014 leave me profoundly concerned \u2026 and with the impression that a call to retreat on military consumer protection has been sounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, new leadership at the CFPB has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Effectively disbanded its Office for Students and Young Consumers, the only federal government unit looking out for borrowers in the $1.5 trillion student loan market, which includes many service members past and present.<\/li><li>Moved to roll back planned safety standards on payday lending, a longtime issue of concern among military members.<\/li><li>Recently proposed abandoning its role in monitoring companies to make sure they\u2019re not violating the Military Lending Act and overcharging service members. This last action is akin to removing your sentries from guarding posts on military compounds. It will result in the bad guys getting in.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These moves are a sharp and unwelcome departure for the agency, which has been a key ally to service members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CFPB opened its doors in 2011 in response to the financial crisis a few years prior; since then, it has handled more than 74,000 complaints from members of the military community about financial companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its enforcement actions have resulted in more than $130 million in relief to servicemembers, who were harmed by illegal company practices, such as contacting servicemembers\u2019 commanding officers about a debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2018\/04\/17\/why-your-credit-score-matters-and-how-troops-veterans-and-families-can-up-their-numbers\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"182\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Credit-cards.-Getty-images.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Why your credit score matters &#8230; and how troops, veterans and families can up their numbers<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Paying your bills on time is a big part of the battle, but it&#039;s not the only step.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the Education Department is reversing significant progress in protecting consumers from exploitative practices by student loan companies and for-profit colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two specific areas are under fire: \u201cGainful Employment\u201d rules that require schools to report job-placement rates accurately, and \u201cBorrower Defense\u201d rules that protect loan-holders from any deceptive practices by their school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-476431229-RESIZED.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-476431229-RESIZED.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-476431229-RESIZED.jpg.jpg?resize=300,157 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-476431229-RESIZED.jpg.jpg?resize=768,402 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-476431229-RESIZED.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,536 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Student Standing in front of Financial Aid Services Office (Pamela Joe McFarlane\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These attacks are underway despite a coalition of Military and Veteran Service Organizations pointing out that, \u201cservice members, veterans, and their families are specifically targeted for fraud by unscrupulous colleges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness. Security clearances are revoked. Troops are rendered non-deployable. Families suffer. The services lose anywhere from 4,700 to 7,900 members yearly because of financial issues and must pay to recruit and train their replacements; some estimates put that cost at more than $57,000 per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tax-paying citizenry should be concerned about that figure, and about keeping benefits for service members and veterans \u2014 significant expenditures in our budget \u2014 out of the hands of unscrupulous businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The protection of those who deserve it most is not partisan. Rather, it invokes the legal, moral and ethical principles that make our nation truly special, and why hundreds of thousands enter military service every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the services enlist more and more personnel to increase military end-strengths, and as those brave individuals raise their right hands in response to the most solemn oath of all, perhaps we, as a Nation, can respond \u201cWe will!\u201d in recognition of our duty to protect these most unique and deserving consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i><b>Col. Paul Kantwill (ret.)<\/b><\/i><i> served in the Army Judge Advocate General\u2019s Corps, and as a senior official in the Defense Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He is senior fellow at the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies at Loyola University-Chicago\u2019s School of Law.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":97,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[97,17],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3938],"class_list":["post-28261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-opinion"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"4KCRWTNYLVAYBOCXV6W66A5XTI","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Army Col. Paul Kantwill (Ret.)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Army Col. Paul Kantwill (Ret.)\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 685,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Commentary\",\n\t                \"Opinion\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection - Military Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/2018\\\/09\\\/05\\\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Commentary\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/commentary\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"commentary\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Military Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News About Your Military | Military Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Military Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/military-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/military-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Military Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection - Military Times","description":"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection","og_description":"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/","og_site_name":"Military Times","article_published_time":"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00","author":"Army Col. Paul Kantwill (Ret.)","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Army Col. Paul Kantwill (Ret.)","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection","datePublished":"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/"},"wordCount":685,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Commentary","Opinion"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/","name":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection - Military Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2018-09-05T23:30:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-07T20:18:05+00:00","description":"It is not hyperbole to state that financial distress compromises individual and unit combat effectiveness.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/09\/05\/commentary-feds-moving-in-wrong-and-dangerous-direction-on-military-consumer-protection\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Commentary","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/","ad_zone":"commentary"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Commentary: Feds moving in wrong (and dangerous) direction on military consumer protection"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","name":"Military Times","description":"Independent News About Your Military | Military Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization","name":"Military Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/military-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/military-logo-white.png","caption":"Military Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Military Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/YFL4ZLQ4YNDRRLTNUOACOCHQCI.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28261"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28272,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28261\/revisions\/28272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28261"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=28261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}