[Liability for Indirect Official Travel]

An advance decision was requested concerning the travel of a U.S. Information Agency employee and his dependents in connection with his transfer from an overseas post to Washington, D.C., with home leave authorized in route. The employee and his family used various modes of transportation, including a Mississippi riverboat, to the home leave destination. Excessive transportation costs and per diem incurred because of the riverboat trip were questioned on the ground that a prudent traveler would have used a less costly means of transportation. In addition, there was a question as to whether the Department of State approved the itinerary in advance as a direct route. GAO could not find evidence of advance approval. The Foreign Affairs Manual states that all official travel must be by a usually traveled route and that travelers are expected to make a conscientious effort to minimize travel costs and assume the costs of any additional expenses incurred for personal convenience. GAO found that the employee's route selection failed this obligation. The employee could have performed the travel by rail or air in 2 days and at a much lower cost. When a traveler deviates from a usually traveled route for personal convenience, he must bear the extra expense for the portion of the journey which is by an indirect route. Reimbursement for costs incurred on that portion of the journey which is traveled by indirect route is limited to the total cost of per diem, incidental, and specified transportation expenses. The reimbursement of the employee's travel should be limited accordingly and action should be initiated to recoup the excessive transportation expenses paid. In addition, the employee should be charged leave for the excess traveltime.