Request for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested a decision concerning a Forest Service employee's travel expense claim. The employee, who was on temporary duty (TDY) assignment and receiving per diem, returned home for a weekend. If he had remained at the TDY station, he would be entitled to a total of $70 per diem. Since the cost of weekend round-trip travel was more than the expenses which would have been incurred had he remained at the TDY station, the employee should only have been reimbursed $70. However, due to an administrative error, the employee received an additional $133 for the balance of his expenses for the round trip travel. USDA questioned the propriety of the second payment. GAO stated that, according to existing regulations, the subsequent payment of $133 should not have been made. GAO noted that, since no cost analysis of the employee's travel was prepared and since the return was not associated with any official duties, there was no basis upon which to pay more than the $70 regular per diem. GAO concluded that USDA should collect the overpayment.