Request for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses

GAO was asked whether a civilian employee of the Defense Logistics Agency should be denied travel expenses because he reported 1 day late for a course of instruction at his temporary duty station. The record showed that the employee was scheduled to attend a program course during August 1979. However, because of an unexpected vacancy in the May class, the employee was rescheduled to take the course in May 1979. An airlines strike was impending and because no travel orders had been received as of April 27, 1979, the employee obtained airline reservations for departure on Monday, May 7, and return on Friday, May 11. The employee considered travel was appropriate on these days, since his previous course had required travel on Monday to avoid Sunday overtime travel. However, when the employee arrived, he found that classes had commenced on May 7, rather than May 8. Because the employee had missed 1 day of classes, he was dismissed from the course and ordered to return to his permanent duty station. GAO held that administrative reports showed that a combination of circumstances, including a lack of timely communication to the civilian employee, was primarily responsible for the employee's late arrival. Therefore, it appeared the employee's late arrival was excusable and that he did not abandon temporary duty. Consequently, the employee may be paid his allowable travel expenses and is not required to repay the cost of return transportation to his permanent duty station.