Claim for Actual Subsistence Expense for Breakfast

An agency official requested a decision regarding the propriety of reimbursement for breakfasts consumed in a travel status by one of its employees. The employee, whose official duty station was in San Diego, California, was assigned to temporary duty in Los Angeles and was authorized actual subsistence expenses in lieu of per diem. Rather than travel to Los Angeles the previous night, he departed from his residence between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. On those mornings when he left early, the employee ate breakfast en route to or at his temporary duty station. In this case, the determination of whether the employee should be reimbursed for the cost of the breakfasts claimed is a matter of judgment within the discretion of the agency. GAO found that where his departure from his residence was at such an early hour that it would have been unreasonable to expect him to eat breakfast at home, he may be reimbursed for a morning meal purchased at other than his permanent duty station. The controlling consideration was the amount of time between the employee's departure and the lunch hour.