[Claim of EPA Employee for Reimbursement of Registration Fee and Per Diem Expenses]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) referred to GAO the claim by one of its doctors for reimbursement of the registration fee and per diem expenses that he incurred while attending a professional conference. EPA specifically asked whether the entire per diem should have been disallowed because the employee did not receive EPA authorization to attend the conference. Further, the employee attended the conference merely to improve his own professional status. GAO noted that regulations do not provide for reimbursement of unauthorized expenditures in connection with attendance at a professional conference. The employee had also claimed reimbursement for the registration fee because, to retain his employment as a doctor with EPA, he needed continuing medical training which was provided at the conference. GAO noted that Government employees are solely responsible for obtaining the qualifications that are required to perform their official duties and that any related expenses may not be reimbursed. Accordingly, the employee may not be reimbursed for per diem expenses or the registration fee.