[Claim for Reimbursement for Currency Exchange Losses]

The Department of the Interior requested a decision regarding an employee's claim for losses he incurred when he exchanged U.S. dollars for foreign currency at hotels while he was on temporary duty. The claimant contended that he could not exchange all of his money at the local banks because of a conflict between banking hours and his working hours. GAO held that Interior could not reimburse the claimant for his loss because: (1) the claimant chose to exchange his money at a place other than a bank, at the risk of incurring a loss; and (2) there was no specific statute or regulation authorizing reimbursement for currency exchange losses. Accordingly, the claim was denied.