[Army Employee's Claim for Commuting Costs]

The Army requested an advance decision regarding a member's claim for reimbursement for mileage expenses he incurred in using his privately owned vehicle for daily local travel between his permanent duty station and a temporary duty station. The Army noted that it: (1) informed the claimant that he would have to use his own vehicle, since government transportation was not available; and (2) did not authorize mileage reimbursement. GAO held that the: (1) claimant's supervisor's oral orders did not entitle the claimant to reimbursement, since the Army did subsequently approve it; and (2) Army had authority to establish its own rules regarding reimbursement for local travel. Accordingly, the claim was denied.