[Bureau of Reclamation Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Real Estate Expenses]

The Bureau of Reclamation requested a decision regarding a Bureau employee's claim for reimbursement for real estate expenses incurred during the sale of his residence at his old duty station incident to an involuntary overseas transfer. GAO held that: (1) federal regulations prohibited reimbursement for real estate expenses incident to an employee transfer unless both the old and new duty station were located within the United States; and (2) there were no exceptions to allow reimbursement for real estate expenses when the transfer to an overseas post or the transfer back to the United States was involuntary. Accordingly, the claim was denied.