[FHwA Employee's Claim for Rental Car Expenses]

The Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) requested a decision regarding an employee's claim for reimbursement for rental car expenses at his official duty station. FHwA advised that it directed the employee to return by airplane from his extended temporary duty site to attend a conference at his official duty station, thus requiring him to leave his privately owned vehicle at his extended temporary duty site. GAO determined that FHwA had the discretion to determine whether the rental at the employee's designated post of duty was advantageous to the government. Accordingly, if the properly designated official made the required determinations, FHwA could reimburse the employee for rental car expenses.