[Decision Concerning Labor Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Travel and Subsistence Expenses]

The Department of Labor and a labor union requested a decision regarding an employee's entitlement to reimbursement for expenses he incurred on a family vacation trip, which Labor had erroneously authorized at government expense incident to the employee's transfer to a new position. GAO held that: (1) there was no statutory authority to pay for the trip; (2) Labor's erroneous advice did not bind the government; and (3) the case did not warrant a report to Congress under the provisions of the Meritorious Claims Act. Accordingly, the claim was denied, and Labor should collect the erroneous payment.