Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses

A member of the Navy requested reconsideration of the denial of his claim for reimbursement of daily commuting expenses between his abode and his permanent duty station. When the member was assigned a new permanent duty station, he was also assigned to Navy quarters some distance away from the duty station. Until government transportation was made available to him, the member used his privately owned vehicle to commute daily between his abode and the duty station. GAO has long held that travel between a member's abode and his permanent duty station is not travel on official business within the meaning of applicable legislation. As a general rule, such travel is considered to be the personal responsibility of the member and is not reimbursable by the government. In his request for reconsideration, the member acknowledged this general rule but stated that a distinction should be made between members who reside in private residences and those assigned to government quarters. GAO concluded that there was no basis for making this distinction and held that the Claims Group correctly denied the claim. Accordingly, that denial was sustained.