[Request for Reconsideration of Claims Group's Disallowance of Travel Claim]
Highlights
An Army officer requested reconsideration of the Claims Group's disallowance of his claim for travel expenses incident to a temporary duty assignment. GAO noted that: (1) the claimant was ordered to perform a temporary duty assignment for approximately 14 days and received a travel advance to cover his expenses; (2) the claimant filed a voucher for 12 days subsistence based on actual cost reimbursement of $75 a day; and (3) finance officials suspected that the travel claim was fraudulent and submitted the claim for investigation. GAO found that: (1) the claimant admitted that his claimed subsistence costs were not accurate; (2) the amounts claimed for meals exceeded the amounts actually spent; and (3) the claimant was reprimanded for submitting a false claim and action was initiated to collect the amount of the unliquidated travel advance. GAO also found that: (1) the entire subsistence claim for each day that fraudulent lodging or meal information was submitted must be denied; (2) the claimant was unable to provide exact figures since he kept no records or receipts; and (3) since the subsistence expense claim for each day was tainted by fraud, the claimant may not be paid any subsistence expenses for the temporary duty performed. Accordingly, the Claims Group's decision disallowing the claim was sustained.