Recovery of Payments for Travel and Transportation Expenses

An agency requested a GAO decision as to whether it should continue collection efforts against a new appointee who, after arriving on his job site and expressing dissatisfaction with a number of his conditions of employment, left without performing any duties. The funds in question represent the employee's travel, transportation, and storage costs advanced to him in connection with moving to the work site. The employee signed a service agreement statement and request for travel authorization which specified a 12-month service period and a reimbursement of moneys expended by the United States in case of violation of the contract. The agency billed the employee for his travel, transportation, and storage advance on the basis that he had not fulfilled his service agreement, and that his failure to do so was not beyond his control. He refused to pay, alleging a breach of contract because of the withdrawal of a cost-of-living allowance and other unsatisfactory conditions. GAO determined that there was no error in the agency's determination of the amount of the travel expenses and the finding that they were not allowable. GAO directed the agency to take action to recover the funds.