Authority of the Air Force To Pay the Travel and Transportation Costs Involved in Permanent Change of Station

An Air Force employee in the Canal Zone, entitled to travel and transportation to his home of record in Bozeman, Montana, transferred to the Forest Service in Oregon at the end of his tour of duty with the Air Force. The Forest Service issued a travel order authorizing allowable relocation expenses not covered by the Air Force order. After the employee's family had moved pursuant to the order, the Air Force decided it was not authorized to pay the travel costs, separated the employee 6 days before his reporting date to the Forest Service, and requested that the Forest Service reimburse it for the expenses already paid. The Air Force contended that according to regulations the employee's selection for employment by the Forest Service prior to his return requires the Forest Service, as acquiring agency, to pay the travel costs. GAO held that a decision cited by the Air Force was not limited to transfers within the Department of Defense exclusively, and that its principles were applicable to the instant case. Legislation, upon which the regulation cited by the Air Force is based, defines "agency" to include any executive agency. Since the record indicated that the employee was not employed by the Forest Service prior to his travel, the regulation does not preclude the Air Force from paying his travel costs. GAO determined that the Air Force should change the employee's separation date to the original shown in the travel orders and withdraw its request for reimbursement of the travel and transportation costs which do not exceed the costs of relocation to the employee's home of record.