[USGS Employee's Claim for Per Diem and Renter's Insurance]

A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employee claimed reimbursement for per diem expenses and renter's insurance, contending that he was required to rent lodgings on a month-to-month lease and did not have the option of avoiding lodging expenses while on leave. GAO held that: (1) the employee sought long-term lodgings at the agency's direction, and USGS erroneously computed the daily lodging rule for these months in which the claimaint took annual leave; and (2) renter's insurance was not a reimbursable expense. Accordingly, the claim was allowed in part.