[Request for Advance Decision Concerning Army Employees' Claim for Higher Per Diem Rate for Extended Temporary Duty]

The Army requested a decision regarding the propriety of per diem payments it made to two civilian employees for extended temporary duty for training. The employees contended that the Army told them that the applicable rate was $50 per day, but paid them a per diem rate of only $28. GAO held that: (1) the Army paid the correct rate pursuant to the travel regulations, which limited per diem for long training assignments to 55 percent of the applicable rate for the locality; and (2) erroneous information did not bind the Army to pay the higher rate. Accordingly, the Army's payments were correct.