[Request for Advance Decision Concerning Reimbursement of Civilian Employees for Travel To Interview at USMC Center]

The Marine Corps requested an advance decision concerning payment of travel expenses for four government employees who traveled to the Marine Corps Combat Center to interview for a vacancy and were in an annual leave status at the time of the interviews. GAO noted that: (1) the four employees worked at federal agencies other than the Corps; and (2) the Corps had authorized travel expenses for the employees since the travel was directly related to its business. GAO held that, although the employees were not in a temporary duty status at the time of the interview, they were in a situation similar to a non-government employee authorized by a government agency to travel to a place of interview at the agency's expense. Accordingly, the Marine Corps should reimburse the employees for the actual travel expenses they incurred.