Claim for Travel Expenses To Attend FAA Board of Review

A decision was requested on whether an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while attending a board of review at the request of another employee. Before attending, the employee was advised by the FAA that there would not be reimbursement for expenses related to attending the meeting. The employee submitted a request for payment through the FAA and his claim was denied. The employee then submitted a grievance on the matter which was also denied. Since the issue raised was whether the FAA may pay the claim, the case was submitted to GAO. For the following reasons, GAO upheld the denial by the FAA: (1) the employee incurred the travel expenses prior to the effective date of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978; (2) the employee was not entitled to reimbursement for his travel expenses under the Executive Order 11491; and (3) prior to attending the meeting, the employee was advised by the agency and union that there would be no reimbursement.