[Purchase of Air Purifier]

An official of the Department of Justice asked whether the agency may purchase an air purifier for an employee who may qualify for disability retirement benefits due to hypersensitivity to tobacco smoke. GAO determined that appropriated funds may be used to purchase an air purifier for an individual employee's office only if he qualifies as handicapped under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. GAO noted that, in this case, it was not clear on the basis of information provided that disability retirement would be the consequence of not providing an air purifier. If the employee is not found to be handicapped, the fact that he may be found eligible to retire on partial or total disability grounds does not provide the necessary statutory authority for a personal convenience purchase.