[Decision Concerning DOE Employee's Entitlement to Extension of Period of Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses]

The Department of Energy (DOE) requested an advance decision regarding its authority to extend an employee's temporary quarters subsistence allowance beyond the period authorized by the Department of Defense (DOD). DOE advised that DOD: (1) authorized the claimant 60 days of temporary quarters subsistence expenses upon his transfer from an overseas post to the United States; (2) terminated the claimant's appointment after the transfer, whereupon he transferred to DOE; and (3) denied the claimant's request, since it believed that DOE, as the current employer, was responsible for granting any extensions. GAO held that DOD had the authority to consider the claimant's extension request, since it authorized the transfer and paid the relocation expenses. Accordingly, DOD should consider the employee's request for additional temporary quarters expenses on the merits.