[Decision Concerning FEMA Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Real Estate Expenses]

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested a decision regarding whether an employee was entitled to reimbursement for real estate expenses he incurred incident to a transfer, contending that it issued erroneous travel orders authorizing residence sale expenses. GAO held that: (1) FEMA could not reimburse the employee, since the government did not authorize real estate expenses for international transfers; (2) since there was no basis for concluding that the employee suffered a loss as a result of the erroneous advice, it was not appropriate to submit the claim to Congress as a meritorious claim; and (3) the government was not bound by erroneous advice. Accordingly, the claim was denied.