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B-307316 1 (2006-09-07)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptastk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A G A O Comptroller General . Accountability * Integrity * Reliability of the United States United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 Decision Matter of: Department of the Army-Availability of Funds for Security Clearance Expenses File: B-307316 Date: September 7, 2006 DIGEST An Army captain's costs of renouncing his Turkish citizenship in order to obtain a security clearance necessary for his assignment to the United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine can be considered an official, not a personal, expense since they are incurred incident to the Army requirement that he obtain a security clearance for his new assignment. Because the costs were incurred primarily for the benefit of the government, GAO has no objection to reimbursing the captain for such expenses. DECISION The United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM or Center) has requested a decision under 31 U.S.C. § 3529 on whether its appropriated funds are available to reimburse an Army captain costs he incurred in renouncing his Turkish citizenship. The captain held dual citizenship with the United States and with Turkey. He renounced his Turkish citizenship in order to obtain a security clearance necessary for his position. A security clearance is required for the captain's new assignment at the Center. As explained below, the costs of the captain's renouncing his Turkish citizenship can be considered an official, not a personal, expense since they were incurred incident to the Army requirement that he obtain a security clearance for his new assignment. Accordingly, we view the costs of the renunciation as primarily benefiting the government. GAO has no objection to reimbursing the captain for such expenses. BACKGROUND By orders dated May 3, 2005, the Army transferred Captain Nizamettin Gul from the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (Research Institute) to the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM)