[Decision Concerning Two Interior Employees' Entitlement to Per Diem]

The Department of the Interior requested a decision concerning two employees' claims for per-diem expenses they incurred incident to a long-term temporary duty assignment in which they encountered lengthy and unexpected delays. GAO held that the: (1) nature of the claimants' duties was temporary; and (2) claimants could move between temporary duty stations without regard to arbitrary time limits. Accordingly, the claims were allowed, and Interior need not permanently transfer the claimants.