Federal Travel Regulation; Reorganizing and Streamlining the Federal Travel Regulation To Improve Operational Efficiency

Key Points

• The federal travel and moving rulebook is reorganized and cut by about half to make it easier to use. Agencies get more flexibility to pick the best travel method for the job, instead of following a fixed order like plane, train, then car.
• If a conference or event provides a meal you can’t eat for medical or religious reasons, you may claim the full meal allowance. You only need advance approval if you knew the meal details ahead of time.
• Laundry is no longer its own reimbursement line; agencies may cover it as a miscellaneous expense. Premium-class flights still require an approved exception, but yearly reports on their use are dropped to cut paperwork.
• For moves, agencies may reimburse buyer broker fees when you buy a home at your new duty station. Temporary housing payments are simplified to one method based on your lodging bill, which means fewer receipts and less hassle.
• Benefits focus on immediate family and are clarified for two working spouses; only one can claim for non-employee family members. Alaska and Hawaii tour renewals are easier. Taxpayer savings are modest, about $653,000 over 10 years.

Impact Analysis

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