Request for Reimbursement of Real Estate Expense

An employee of the National Security Agency (NSA) performed permanent change of station travel from Maryland to Germany under orders that also authorized the shipment of his privately owned vehicle (POV). He paid $50 to have another individual pick up his POV at the port of debarkation at Bremerhaven, Germany, and deliver it to him at his official duty station, Frankfurt, Germany. Reimbursement for this claim was denied by NSA, as well as his claim for one-half month's rent which was lost on transfer from his old duty station. The employee argued that his unexpired lease cost was incurred for the convenience of the government, because he traveled at that particular time to ensure an adequate transition between the person he was replacing and himself. An advance decision was requested by NSA as to the propriety of paying the claims. GAO held that the employee may not be reimbursed for the unexpired lease expense, since reimbursement for this expense is specifically prohibited by statute unless both old and new stations are in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the Canal Zone. The regulations also preclude commercial shipment of the employee's vehicle between port and duty station. The employee may, however, be paid mileage for the transportation of his automobile from Bremerhaven to Frankfurt.