§5742 Transportation of remains, dependents, and effects; death occurring away from official station or abroad

Summary

Agency heads can pay funeral and travel costs when a federal employee dies while traveling or working away from their regular duty station. They must follow rules set by the President and use money available for the work the employee was doing. The agency can pay to prepare and move the body to the employee’s home, official station, or another suitable burial place if the death happened while the employee was traveling away from their station in the United States, or while performing duties outside the continental United States or in transit to or from such duty. The agency can also pay to move the employee’s dependents and household effects home in cases of death outside the continental United States, and in certain situations for employees under a mandatory mobility agreement or who died from disease or injury while working in the area under the Commander of the United States Central Command and supporting a military operation. The agency can pay travel costs for up to 2 people to escort the remains. If a dependent who lived with the employee dies while the employee is serving outside the continental United States, in Alaska, or in transit to or from those places, the agency head can pay to move the dependent’s remains to their home or another burial place. If local funeral services are not available or are too expensive, the agency may provide mortuary services and supplies and seek repayment. Benefits cannot be refused just because the person was temporarily absent from duty when death happened. Agency means an Executive agency, a military department, or an agency in the legislative or judicial branch.