[Decision Concerning DOE Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Real Estate Expenses]

The Department of Energy (DOE) requested a decision regarding a transferred employee's claim for reimbursement for expenses he incurred in: (1) occupying temporary quarters at his old station after selling his residence; (2) selling his residence at his old duty station; and (3) occupying temporary quarters at his new duty station. GAO held that the claimant was: (1) not entitled to reimbursement for the real estate expenses, since he sold the residence before DOE notified him of the transfer; (2) not entitled to reimbursement for temporary quarters expenses he incurred at the old duty station, since his temporary occupancy was not directly related to his transfer; and (3) entitled to reimbursement for the temporary quarters subsistence expenses he incurred at his new duty station, if otherwise consistent with DOE policy. Accordingly, the claim was denied in part and allowed in part.