Tag Archives: GSA

Conference spending drops dramatically

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Originally posted on Federaltimes.com by Andy Medici

Conference spending at four agencies fell 88 percent from fiscal 2010 to 2012, according to a report released Jan. 3 by Rep. John Mica, R-Fla.

The Defense Department, Veterans Affairs Department, the General Services Administration and the IRS spent a combined $224 million on conferences in fiscal 2010 compared to $26 million in 2012, according to the report.

Mica, chairman of the subcommittee on Government Operations in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said increased congressional oversight of these agencies contributed to the drop in conference spending.

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Area hotels prepare to accommodate new government per-diem rates

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Originally published by Abha Bhattarai on The Washington Post

The federal government adjusted its allowances for employee travel and conferences last week, sending area hotels scrambling to make adjustments before the new per diems take effect Oct. 1.

The most marked change, hotel managers say, is the elimination of a clause that currently allows employees to spend an extra 25 percent for conferences.

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Federal travel tab slashed $1 billion, largely in conference cuts

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Originally posted by TravelMole

Federal government travelers cut their spending by more than a billion dollars so far in 2013, largely by cutting down on conference spending, the Federal Times reported last week.

Travel-related charges to the SmartPay charge card program fell 17%, from $7.3 billion to about $6 billion -- and more than 40% from the $9.6 billion government workers spent on travel in fiscal 2011.

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GSA ups per diem rates for 2014, ends conference allowance

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Originally published by Jack Moore on Federal News Radio

After a two-year freeze, per diems for work-related federal travel are going up slightly, according to the General Services Administration.

The standard rate for lodging will increase from $77 to $83, while the standard rate for meals and incidental expenses will remain unchanged. The changes take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

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Gutting travel, conference budgets invites problems

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Originally posted on Federal Times

Federal travel and conference spending is predictably tanking under the combined pressures of severe budget cuts and the repercussions of a string of high-profile conference scandals that started in April 2012.

The scandals -- embarrassingly lavish conference events held by the General Services Administration, the Veterans Affairs Department and the IRS that were brought to light by inspectors general investigations -- provoked a quick and harsh response from Congess and the White House. Travel and conference activity across government slowed to a trickle within weeks.

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