[Question Concerning Dependents' Travel]

A question was raised as to whether a Department of Defense employee stationed overseas was properly allowed the travel of his dependents at public expense when they accompanied him on a temporary duty assignment in the United States. GAO found that transportation of the employee's dependents was authorized, and the authorization was for travel between official stations and renewal agreement travel. GAO has held that: (1) dependents may perform authorized tour renewal travel by accompanying the employee on a temporary duty assignment which he is directed to perform in the continental United States; and (2) an employee who defers his own tour renewal travel and is later precluded from performing that travel for reasons beyond his control has no obligation to refund the expenses of his dependents travel. GAO determined that: (1) the dependents were properly authorized tour renewal travel when they accompanied the employee on his temporary duty assignment; and (2) he remained eligible to perform his own tour renewal travel separately for the purpose of taking leave in the United States at the later date. Accordingly, the employee would not be liable to refund any portion of the expenses of the travel performed by his wife and son.