[Claim for Security Deposit and Weekend Return Travel Expenses]

An advance decision was requested as to whether certain reclaim vouchers submitted by an employee of the Department of Energy (DOE) may be paid. The employee claimed that he was entitled to reimbursement for a forfeited security deposit and for the cost of a round-trip airline ticket in connection with a temporary duty assignment. At the start of the employee's temporary duty (TDY), he was informed that the detail was expected to last approximately 6 months and he was encouraged to rent an apartment at the TDY site, but he was advised to rent the apartment on a month-to-month basis. However, the employee signed a 1-year lease for an apartment and forfeited his security deposit when his TDY assignment was terminated prior to the expiration of the lease. GAO held that the employee acted unreasonably in signing the 1-year lease under the circumstances and that reimbursement may not be allowed. The cost of the round-trip ticket for which the employee wished to be reimbursed was incurred in connection with a trip away from his TDY site during a holiday weekend. GAO found that, since the trip was not made either to the employee's place of abode or to his official duty station, the cost of the round-trip ticket was not reimbursable. In addition, GAO held that the costs of meals and cab fares during that holiday weekend were also not reimbursable, since the employee obtained lodgings and meals in a distant location out of personal preference and not due to the nature of his TDY assignment. Finally, GAO held that an additional voucher for meals incident to the employee's return travel to his headquarters, based on a flat rate per meal per day, may not be paid under applicable regulations. However, the payment based on the original voucher did not need to be recouped absent evidence of intention to defraud the Government. Accordingly, GAO concurred with the DOE action disallowing these claims.