[Claim for Reimbursement of Child Care Expenses Incurred While Househunting]

The Department of Justice requested a decision as to whether a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee may be reimbursed for child care expenses. The expenses resulted from his spouse's househunting travel which was performed in connection with the employee's permanent change of station. FBI denied the claim for child care expenses, citing previous GAO decisions which held that such expenses are not reimbursable absent extenuating circumstances. The employee claimed that the FBI determination incorrectly applied the earlier decisions to this case and that extenuating circumstances did exist which made child care necessary. GAO held that regulations limit allowances for househunting to roundtrip travel and transportation expenses and do not authorize reimbursement for child care expenses despite possible extenuating circumstances. Further, GAO did not find any error in the application of the earlier decisions. Accordingly, the claim may not be paid.