[Claim for Transportation Expenses Incurred During Weekend Personal Travel]

A union requested a GAO decision concerning the claim of a civilian Navy employee for reimbursement for transportation expenses which he incurred during a holiday weekend trip away from his temporary duty station. His travel order originally authorized him two round trips to his home during the period of the temporary duty assignment. However, he requested that the destination of a transportation request be changed so that he could visit relatives at another location during a holiday. The employee stated that an agency official verbally approved the change in destination. Upon review of the voucher which the employee submitted, the Navy disallowed the travel expenses associated with the trip, which was for personal reasons. GAO found that, since the employee's trip was to a location other than his headquarters or place of abode, he could not be reimbursed for the transportation costs incurred. The fact that an agency official erroneously approved the travel did not provide a basis for paying the transportation expenses. Furthermore, since travel orders may not be modified retroactively, the employee's modified travel order had no legal effect. Finally, since the employee stayed with relatives during the holiday, he had no basis upon which to claim reimbursement for subsistence expenses. Accordingly, the claim for transportation expenses could not be allowed.