[Question Concerning Mileage Reimbursement for Travel in Privately Owned Vehicle]

A Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) employee claimed an additional mileage allowance incident to his official travel. The employee contended that: (1) he suffered a work-related back injury that made it necessary for him to drive a car with a special orthopedic seat; (2) since the government could not make such a vehicle available, he was forced to use his own vehicle for official travel; and (3) he should be reimbursed for mileage at a higher rate since an adequate government car was not available. GAO held that: (1) since the employee never filed a claim for his alleged work-related injury, it could not determine whether the injury was work-related; (2) government employees are expected to furnish any equipment necessary for them to perform their duties; and (3) since a regularly equipped government vehicle was available, HUD could not reimburse the employee at the higher rate. Accordingly, the claim was denied.