[Request for Advance Decision Concerning Propriety of Reimbursement for Vehicle Shipment Costs]
Highlights
The National Security Agency requested a decision as to requested whether an employee who was erroneously advised about requirements concerning government shipment of his privately owned automobile incident to an overseas transfer and whose travel order initially authorized government shipment of his automobile upon a subsequent transfer from the overseas duty station may be reimbursed the cost of shipping the automobile from the overseas duty station. The employee replaced his automobile when he arrived at his new duty station with one that was manufactured in that country. Regulations permit government shipment of a transferred employees' automobile only if it was shipped to the duty station by the government initially or if it was manufactured in the United States. GAO held that the employee was not entitled to shipping expenses because he violated these regulations. Further, the government cannot be responsible for the erroneous advice given the to employee. Accordingly, reimbursement of the transportation expenses was denied.