Allegation of Pay and Leave Violations by a BIA Manager Unfounded

OIG initiated this investigation after receiving an allegation that a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) manager violated Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Pay & Leave policy by residing in Oklahoma but receiving Washington DC locality pay.

 

Our investigation found no evidence to substantiate the allegation. Based on interviews of the employee’s supervisor, as well as a review of payroll, personnel, and official travel records, we confirmed that although the employee’s family lived in Oklahoma, his official duty station was in Washington DC and his legal residence was in the Washington, DC commuting area. Based on OPM’s Pay & Leave policy, the employee was therefore authorized to receive Washington, DC locality pay.

 

We also found that the employee’s supervisor had authorized him to take annual leave in conjunction with official travel to visit his family in Oklahoma and that the employee properly documented his travel and expenses.