[NRC Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Personal Telephone and Telegram Expenses]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested a decision regarding an employee's claim for reimbursement for personal telephone and telegraph expenses he incurred due to a family emergency that occurred while he was on temporary duty overseas. The claimant contended that: (1) NRC would have been authorized to reimburse him for round-trip travel expenses if he had gone home to deal with the situation; (2) the telephone and telegram expenses were significantly less than the cost of round-trip travel; and (3) it was in the government's best interest for him to complete his official travel. GAO held that federal travel regulations prohibited reimbursement for personal telephone calls and telegrams. Accordingly, the claim was denied.