What authority can the Secretary of the Navy exercise regarding debts and claims?

• A. Approve annual budget
• B. Recruit new sailors
• C. Grant leave or waivers
• D. Remit or cancel debts of naval service members or waive claims

Answer: (D)

The key idea is discretionary relief for a service member’s financial obligations. The Secretary of the Navy has the authority to remit or cancel debts owed by naval service members and to waive government claims against them. This means, in appropriate cases—such as erroneous pay or allowances, overpayments, or situations where pursuing the debt would be unfair or impractical—the secretary can forgive all or part of the debt or decide not to pursue the claim. This power is about adjusting financial liabilities to be fair and reasonable, rather than handling budgeting, recruitment, or routine leave matters. The ability to remit or waive debts helps protect service members from undue hardship while maintaining proper accountability.