Claim for Reimbursement of Commercial Lodging Expenses Incident to a Training Assignment

A civilian employee of the Air Force presented a claim for reimbursement of commercial lodging expenses while on a training assignment. He was assigned quarters on the base where the training took place, but after one night he moved to a motel because he felt the Government quarters were substandard. It was held that an employee could not be reimbursed for commercial lodging when he chose not to occupy Government quarters. Also, regulations state that an employee may not be reimbursed for commercial quarters unless he obtains a statement from the Commanding Officer saying that the occupation of Government quarters was impracticable. The employee did not obtain such a statement; therefore the claim was disallowed.