Request for Weekend Return Travel Expenses

A decision was requested concerning the reimbursement of a traveler on temporary duty who voluntarily returned to his residence on nonworkdays. The issue presented was whether the traveler in computing his weekend return travel reimbursement may use commercial lodging rates in determining what he would have spent at the temporary duty site for per diem or actual subsistence expenses. GAO held that under Federal Travel Regulations an employee on temporary duty may voluntarily return on nonworkdays to his official station or residence and be reimbursed for transportation and per diem not to exceed the per diem and travel expenses which would have been allowed had the employee remained at his temporary duty station. In addition, an employee who stays with friends or relatives during the week at no cost to the Government may use commercial lodging rates in determining " what would have been allowed" if he had remained at the temporary duty site.