[Request for Decision Concerning Travel Vouchers of Temporary Employees]

An authorized certifying officer of the Department of the Interio requested a decision concerning the payment of travel vouchers submitted by four temporary employees who were recruited to perform seasonal work as members of an archeological survey crew. The certifying officer questioned the employees of the official duty station location and suspended payment of travel and per diem claims pending a GAO decision. The employees' travel orders specified the location where they had been recruited as their duty station, but they worked in a field location where they were fed and lodged. The employing officer had specified their recruiting location as their official duty station because he considered the employees to be itinerant employees, and he felt that the possibility existed that they would be required to move to another field location. He also stated that the employees received per diem and lodging because of the unpleasant working conditions. GAO found that Federal regulations prohibit the payment of per diem at an employee's official duty station. In addition, an employee's official duty station must be the location where his work is performed. Although the employing officer asserted that the employees could have been required to move during their temporary employment, it was expected that all of their duties would be performed at the field site. Since the employees did not move from that site, they could not be considered itinerant employees and, while at the site, were not away from a properly designated duty station during the period covered by the vouchers. GAO found that the agency had no discretion to designate the site of their recruitment as their official duty station and, becasue of the employees' orders, the nature of their assignments, and actual duties performed, the payment of travel per diem was not authorized. Accordingly, the claims in question may not be paid, and the amounts previously paid on similar claims should be collected. Further, the usual charges for meals and lodgings furnished by the Government should be charged against these employees. However, waiver of the resulting debts may be considered as erroneous payments.