Entitlement to Reimbursement of Travel Expenses

GAO was asked about the entitlement of a civilian employee to reimbursement for expenditures claimed on a temporary duty travel voucher which strongly appeared to be partially fraudulent and about the collection of a payment made to the employee on a voucher presented in connection with a previous permanent change of duty station which also appeared to be partially fraudulent. The employee was authorized travel expenses incident to temporary duty in a designated high rate geographical area. The employee submitted a voucher for reimbursement for travel and subsistance expenses. In an itemized statement of actual expenses, he claimed identical amounts for meals for each day of the period, lodging costs for each day except one, and laundry expenses. As the total amount claimed for food and lodgings each day was exactly the authorized maximum rate payable for actual expenses, the agency suspected fraud and an investigation was initiated. The employee explained that the high cost of his meals was due to a special diet. An investigation of the lodging vouchers established that the employee did not pay the amount he had claimed. He took a week's vacation during the period, for which time he submitted temporary duty expense vouchers. These findings strongly supported a determination of fraud. Accordingly, GAO held that the employee's entire claim for actual expenses had been tainted and could not be allowed. He may be reimbursed mileage and tolls for the round-trips on nonworkdays from his temporary duty station to his residence as such travel was authorized in his travel vouchers. A claim for a telephone call to make lodging arrangements may be allowed providing that it was certified by an appropriate agency official. A voucher previously submitted by the employee for relocation expenses was investigated and also found to be fraudulent. The amount paid for such per diem should be recouped.