---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 17307"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "17307"
heading: "Purchase of insurance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/17307"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 173 — Government Losses in Shipment"
---

# §17307. Purchase of insurance


An executive department, independent establishment, agency, [wholly owned Government corporation](/usc/40/17301.md?p=4), officer, or employee may expend money, or incur an obligation, for insurance, or for the payment of premiums on insurance, against loss, destruction, or damage in the [shipment](/usc/40/17301.md?p=2) of [valuables](/usc/40/17301.md?p=3-A) only as specifically authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary may give the authorization if the Secretary finds that the risk of loss, destruction, or damage in the [shipment](/usc/40/17301.md?p=2) cannot be guarded against adequately by the facilities of the [Federal Government](/usc/40/17101.md?p=1) or that adequate [replacement](/usc/40/17301.md?p=1) cannot be provided under this chapter.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1282.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 17307 | 40:726. | July 8, 1937, ch. 444, § 4, 50 Stat. 480. |

The words “On and after the effective date of the regulations prescribed under section 721 of this title” are omitted as obsolete. The words “the circumstances are such that” are omitted as unnecessary.