[Decision Concerning Bureau of Reclamation Employee's Claim for Additional Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses]

The Bureau of Reclamation requested a decision regarding a transferred employee's claim for reimbursement of temporary quarters subsistence expenses. The Bureau advised that it disallowed half of the claimant's expenses for temporary lodging, since his son occupied a separate room when he could have stayed in the claimant's room at no additional cost. The claimant contended that he placed his son in a separate room for medical reasons. GAO held that the claimant was entitled to reimbursement for the costs of his son's temporary lodging, up to the maximum allowable rate, since: (1) there was no authority precluding employees from obtaining separate rooms for children when occupying temporary lodging; and (2) the temporary lodging costs appeared to be reasonable and within the authorized per diem limits. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.