Claim for Additional Per Diem

An employee of the Forest Service appealed the disallowance of his claim for additional per diem. The employee alleged that his rate of per diem was based on misinformation concerning the cost of meals and lodging. GAO reviewed the record and concluded that the determination as to whether per diem will be authorized and in what amount is within the discretionary authority of the administrative officials concerned. The fact that the amount of per diem authorized may have been insufficient to meet the employee's needs is not sufficient evidence to establish that the travel order was in error. GAO found no evidence to support the allegation that the per diem rate was based on misinformation. Instead, it appears that the rate was based on a study of the costs incurred by employees traveling in the area. Accordingly, GAO found no basis for retroactive modification of the employee's travel orders to reflect additional per diem. Therefore, the earlier GAO decision was sustained.