Glenn Rutledge-Short Distance Transfer

B-254585.3 Jan 26, 1996 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights An agency adopted a regulation to limit relocation benefits for transferring employees to transfers in which the new duty station and the old duty station are at least 30 miles apart and the employee's commute increases at least 30 miles. The employee appeals the agency's decision asserting that the agency's regulation is contrary to law because it was motivated primarily by the agency's desire to reduce relocation expenses. The regulation is within the discretion given agencies under the applicable Federal Travel Regulation. The claim is denied. Which is 26 miles from Silver Spring. Which was effective May 2. Rutledge was selected had been advertised in a NOAA Merit Promotion Program vacancy announcement. View Decision Matter of: Glenn Rutledge-Short Distance Transfer File: B-254585.3 Date: January 26, 1996 An agency adopted a regulation to limit relocation benefits for transferring employees to transfers in which the new duty station and the old duty station are at least 30 miles apart and the employee's commute increases at least 30 miles. Based on this regulation, the agency denied an employee's request for reimbursement for relocation expenses. The employee appeals the agency's decision asserting that the agency's regulation is contrary to law because it was motivated primarily by the agency's desire to reduce relocation expenses. The regulation is within the discretion given agencies under the applicable Federal Travel Regulation. Therefore, the claim is denied. DECISION Mr. Glenn Rutledge, an employee of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, appeals his agency's denial of relocation expenses incident to his permanent change-of-station. We sustain the agency's determination. BACKGROUND Mr. Rutledge successfully applied for a GM-13 meteorologist's position in Silver Spring, Maryland. At the time of his selection, he had been serving as a GS-12 meteorologist at Camp Springs, Maryland, which is 26 miles from Silver Spring. As a result of the transfer, which was effective May 2, 1993, Mr. Rutledge's commute increased from 24 to 50 miles. Subsequently, Mr. Rutledge purchased a home near Silver Spring that shortened his commute to 15 miles. The position for which Mr. Rutledge was selected had been advertised in a NOAA Merit Promotion Program vacancy announcement. This announcement did not include a statement that relocation benefits would not be offered to the successful applicant. Therefore, according to an agency policy, "When this statement is not on the vacancy announcement, if otherwise eligible, an employee from outside the commuting area selected from a Merit Promotion Certificate is entitled to payment of relocation expenses." Section 3, para. .03, Personnel Bulletin 335-2, Aug. 5, 1987. The issue here is whether Mr. Rutledge is "an employee from outside the commuting area." The answer depends of the validity of an amendment to an agency regulation limiting the circumstances in which the agency would pay for relocation expenses. There is no dispute that if the regulation is within the scope of the agency's discretion, Mr. Rutledge's claim may not be paid. The amendment, announced in an October 20, 1992, memorandum, provides that to qualify for relocation benefits incident to a transfer, the distance between the old and new duty stations and the increase in the employee's commute must be at least 30 miles. Previously, the agency applied a 10-mile minimum distance contained in the governmentwide Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). The memorandum further states that exceptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The stated purpose of the amendment, according to the memorandum, was "concerns previously expressed by the Deputy Under Secretary that the cost for NOAA relocations could and should be lowered." Based on this amendment, the agency denied Mr. Rutledge's claim for relocation benefits. Mr. Rutledge requested an exception, which also was denied. In his appeal to this Office, Mr. Rutledge asserts that the agency may not use budget constraints to increase the commuting requirement from 10 miles to 30 miles. He also asserts that he relied in good faith on assurances from his supervisor that the agency had approved relocation benefits incident to his transfer. OPINION The payment of relocation expenses is authorized under 5 U.S.C. Secs. 5724 and 5724a (1988). This authority requires agencies to determine first that the transfer is "in the interest of the Government" and not "primarily for the convenience or benefit of the employee." 5 U.S.C. Sec. 5724(a) and (h), respectively. The determination that a transfer is in the interest of the government, however, is only an initial threshold requirement. An employee for whom relocation benefits are authorized still must comply with all the applicable regulatory requirements.