[NSA Employees' Claims for Per Diem]

Two employees of the National Security Agency (NSA) claimed entitlement to per diem for an authorized rest period which occurred prior to their taking a day of annual leave upon completion of an overseas temporary duty assignment. GAO held that: (1) NSA properly limited reimbursement of per diem for rest periods; and (2) failure to inform the employees that by taking annual leave they would forfeit their entitlement to per diem for the rest period did not establish a basis for disregarding the applicable regulatory provisions and established agency policy. Accordingly, the claims were denied.