[FBI Employee's Claim for Relocation Expenses]

A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee appealed the denial of his claim for reimbursement for relocation expenses he incurred in travelling from his training location to his permanent duty station. FBI had denied the claim, since the claimant had travelled to his first permanent duty station and was not entitled to relocation expenses for a transfer. The claimant contended that FBI should reimburse him, since it had erroneously informed him that he was entitled to relocation expenses. GAO had held that the government was not accountable for its agents' erroneous advice. In his appeal, the employee contended that to deny his claim on that basis was unjustifiable. GAO held that, notwithstanding the erroneous advice he received, the employee was not entitled to reimbursement. Accordingly, the claim was denied.