[Claim for Travel Expenses To Attend Hearing]

A government employees' union requested a decision regarding the entitlement of a former Department of Labor employee to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred incident to her attendance at an administrative hearing. The claimant had appealed a reduction in force which separated her from her position before the expiration of her term of service. GAO held that, since the claimant was not: (1) a government employee at the time she made the trip, she was not entitled to reimbursement of her travel expenses; and (2) reinstated to her job as a result of the hearing, she was not entitled to reimbursement of her travel expenses. Accordingly, the claim was denied.