[Decision Concerning USIA Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Lodging and Meal Expenses]

The United States Information Agency (USIA) requested a decision concerning two employees' claims for reimbursement for lodging and meal expenses incurred in the area of their official duty station. GAO noted that USIA authorized travel expenses for the employees to travel from their official duty station to various cities and return, but improperly approved one employee's claim for per diem expenses incurred at her official duty station. GAO held that, although the employees were not entitled to per diem allowances at their official duty station regardless of unusual working conditions, the amounts erroneously authorized were subject to waiver. Accordingly, the claims were disallowed.