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Per diem rate levels for federal employees traveling on official business have piqued the curiosity of one of Congress' leading government waste critics.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., chairman of a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee, said at a hearing last week that he intends to launch a review of the government's method for setting the rates. A spokesman said Monday that while this is an idea the subcommittee is considering, no hearings are yet planned.

Coburn said an experience on a trip to Iraq earlier this month sponsored by the military prompted his curiosity about per diems. He said he received a total of $670 in excess per diem money from two nights he spent at a hotel in Paris, en route to Iraq and on his return trip. He pledged to write a check to the Treasury for the extra money he received.

"Is the per diem accurate? That's the number one question we should be asking," he said. "I may be wrong that it may be too generous, but I want to look into it and see."

Coburn's spokesman said the Iraq trip was paid for by the State and Defense departments. A Senate Ethics Committee official said federal agencies are authorized to cover travel expenses for members of Congress, but the committee does not track that data.

Domestic per diem rates within the continental United States are set by the General Services Administration annually with periodic updates throughout the year based on the average cost of hotel rooms in a given ZIP code.

The State Department's Bureau of Administration Office of Allowances sets international per diem rates based on rules established by GSA in the Federal Travel Regulation.

According to the State Department regulations, the foreign travel per diem allowance is a payment in lieu of reimbursement for actual living expenses. The established rates are maximums, but under the FTR, agency authorizing officials are required to reduce the maximum rates when necessary to maintain a level of payment consistent with actual travel expenses.

All questions to GSA regarding international travel per diem rates were referred to the State Department.

State Department employees are reimbursed for lodging costs at the actual value for both domestic and international travel, meaning they cannot pocket any extra money, an agency official said. The official could not address other agencies' international travel policies, however.

A GSA official said in a statement that the government's policy for domestic travel permits federal employees to keep only money left over from the meals and incidental expenses part of the per diem. All money spent on lodging is reimbursed to the employee at the actual cost.

The meals and incidental expenses rate for continental U.S. travel can range from $39 to $64 per day depending on the location and covers expenses for food, transportation and other necessities when a federal employee is on official travel.

COMMENTS

• This is not a regulation of the USAF or any service for that matter. It is covered in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Receipts are only required if the expense is over a certain dollar amount except for lodging and I think rental cars. There is no way to stay in a $39.99 hotel room but pocket the full lodging rate. Nullrout Posted October 2, 2006 12:38 PM
• Taxpayer states an opinion as if anyone traveling on government TDY is permitted to "pocket money" by staying in “flea bag hotels.” This is totally wrong for DOD USAF civilians traveling. We are only reimbursed for actual expenses up to per diem levels, but only get the actual amount paid. So I can choose Motel 6 at $39.99 a night or the Crowne Plaza at $101 per night, as long as the per diem rate is at $101 or above. So what should I do? Now the meals and incidental part is where someone can pocket some cash, if they are inclined to do so. One can feast and dine at McDonalds versus Outback if that is their preference. Frequent Government Traveler GovExec.com reader Posted September 30, 2006 12:32 PM
• I am just sick of every little thing necessitating another investigation. If a mistake was made, big deal, fix the mistake. Don't waste taxpayer money on these bogus studies. And why did the senator stay overnight in Paris on his way to Iraq. If I, as a civilian were deployed to Iraq, I would fly into Ramstein, Germany, via commercial flight (coach class) then transfer to a military aircraft straight into Kuwait, Iraq, etc. No overnight, no business class (because I stepped off an aircraft before boarding another, thus limiting each leg of the flight to under 14 hours). All of this nonsense would have been avoided if the good senator had traveled like government employees do. GovExec.com reader Posted September 21, 2006 11:36 AM