[Request for Reconsideration of Action Allowing Payment of Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses]

The Air Force requested reconsideration of a Claims Group action which allowed temporary quarters subsistence expenses for a civilian employee. The employee had filed a claim for the expenses as a result of his official transfer which caused him to reside in temporary quarters until he found a permanent home. The Air Force denied the claim because the employee's account of the situation appeared to be misstated. However, the Claims Group authorized payment because the claim was reasonable. Upon reconsideration, GAO noted that actual costs in the claim had been misrepresented by the employee. Since the deliberate inaccuracies amounted to attempted fraud, the claim must be denied. Accordingly, the Claims Group settlement may not be followed.