[Decision Concerning DOE Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Full Meals Portion of Per Diem Allowance]

An employee protested the Department of Energy's reduction of his per diem allowance for meal expenses he incurred during a conference, contending that he could not consume the conference meals because of religious beliefs and was entitled to reimbursement for purchasing substitute meals. GAO held that, since the employee's reasons for meal substitution were reasons beyond personal choice or preference, he was entitled to the full per diem allowance. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.