Requirement To Use Government-Furnished Quarters

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested an opinion as to whether a policy could be instituted which requires its employees, while assigned as students to the FAA Academy, to use Government-furnished quarters and to take their meals at Government facilities in lieu of giving these students a per diem allowance. Currently, the students receive per diem allowances and obtain lodging and meals from commercial sources in the area. The FAA stated that initial studies indicated that a substantial savings could be realized by the Government if facilities were furnished for at least some part of the student population. FAA also recognized that a high occupancy rate would be necessary to achieve the savings and that such an occupancy rate could only be ensured if students were required to use the quarters. Without making the finding that use of such quarters is necessary in order to accomplish the employee's mission, FAA may not require its employees, while they are assigned as students at the FAA Academy, to use Government-furnished quarters. The necessity determinations cannot be made on a blanket basis, but must be made for each individual case or for particular courses.