Budget and Spending:

Conferences under Department of Defense Auspices Held in Hawaii during Fiscal Year 1976 and Transition Quarter

FPCD-77-50, May 26, 1977

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The Army, Navy, Air Force, and other Defense agencies held 60 conferences in Hawaii during fiscal year 1976, and the transition quarter ending September 30, 1976. Estimated transportation and per diem costs for the conferences totaled $492,400.

A lack of clear guidance in scheduling conferences may have led to unnecessary conference costs. Only the Navy has implemented a servicewide instruction for scheduling and approving conferences, although the Pacific Air Force Command has a comparable local instruction. None of the military activities in Hawaii were aware of Office of Management and Budget guidelines which require establishment procedures to reduce conference travel.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Recommendation for Executive Action

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct Defense agencies and the military departments to improve conference scheduling procedures and reduce conference costs by: incorporating Office of Management and Budget guidelines into existing instructions; making sure that approving officials are apprised of conference costs as well as purpose; justifying each conference individually rather than authorizing certain conferences on a recurring basis; requiring justification where more than one participant from each activity is scheduled to attend; exploring the potential for consolidating conferences with similar purposes; and having one trip serve more than one official purpose. In addition, temporary duty travel costs could be reduced by requiring conference planners to obtain statements of nonavailability for all Government quarters before allowing military personnel to stay in commercial facilities.

    Agency Affected:

    Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.