[Decision Concerning DOE Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses]

The Department of Energy (DOE) requested a decision concerning a transferred employee's claim for temporary subsistence expenses. DOE had denied reimbursement because the employee occupied a rented house for over 1 year. GAO held that the employee was entitled to reimbursement, since he demonstrated that he: (1) intended to occupy the house temporarily by negotiating a month-to-month lease; (2) stored his household goods in the garage due to insufficient space; and (3) was unable to obtain more suitable quarters during the period he occupied the rented house. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.