[Decision Concerning Potential Air Force Claim Against Deceased Officer's Estate]

The Air Force presented questions concerning a potential claim for erroneous retirement pay against the estate of a deceased retired Air Force officer regarding his employment with a foreign corporation. GAO held that: (1) although the officer was subject to constitutional restrictions relating to employment by a foreign government, it was not clear whether, at the time of his employment by the foreign corporation, the foreign government owned the corporation; and (2) it would be against equity and good conscience and not in the government's best interest to collect the debt, since the officer acted in good faith to seek approval of the employment. Accordingly, the debt should be waived.