[Waiver of Air Force Officer's Erroneous Travel Advance]

The Air Force requested an opinion as to whether it should consider an officer's claim for waiver of repayment of an erroneous travel advance for per diem, mileage, and travel allowances. GAO noted that the: (1) mileage and allowance overpayments did not appear to be appropriate for waiver consideration, since the officer did not rely on those funds to his detriment; and (2) officer's expenses incident to an erroneous extra day of per diem appeared to be appropriate for waiver, since the officer relied on the erroneous authorization. GAO held that the: (1) Air Force should waive the claim if it determined that the officer was not at fault and that collection would be against equity and good conscience; and (2) record did not indicate whether the claim met the standards for waiver. Accordingly, the claim was remanded to the Air Force.