Tsai was on temporary duty in Bangkok when her agency asked her to fly direct to Beijing for government business rather than return home to Washington D.C.  On her way to Beijing she purchased some warmer clothes (e.g. 2 sweaters, pants and a coat) because her clothes for the hot Bangkok weather would not be sufficient.  When challenged for reimbursement she argued (1) the clothes purchase was necessitated by the change in her travel itinerary (2) the change in travel was solely for the benefit of the government (3) the cost of the winter clothes was substantially less than returning to the U.S. to pack  suitable clothing for China and (4) she should not be personally liable for the clothes since they were not the type she would ordinarily buy.

The Appeals Board expressed sympathy but refused reimbursement stating no statute or regulation permitted reimbursement.  The Board said the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), which implements statutory authority, identifies reimbursable travel expenses as lodging, meal, transportation and “miscellaneous expenses” but the clothing is not listed as one of the miscellaneous expenses in 301-12.1 of the FTR.  It cited earlier ruling that also excluded clothing as a reimburseable cost (GSBCA 16058 TRAV).

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