Travel Practices: Private Funding of AID Employees' Travel
NSIAD-87-92
Published: Mar 12, 1987. Publicly Released: Mar 27, 1987.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO investigated the Agency for International Development's (AID) procedures for avoiding conflicts of interest for official travel funded by private sources. GAO also reported on its consideration of an Executive Order that defines standards of ethics for government employees in assessing such travel.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator, AID, should remind agency employees and legal staff to follow the August 5, 1985, guidelines for avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest arising from acceptance of offers to pay travel expenses by private organizations that have or seek contract and grant awards from AID; specifically, employees should obtain General Counsel approval before accepting such offers, and the General Counsel should disapprove these offers when employees have responsibilities involving these organizations. |
Closed – Implemented
AID issued a general notice on July 22, 1987, informing employees of the requirement to obtain approval of the General Counsel of offers by private organizations to pay official travel expenses.
|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator, AID, should instruct bureau and office supervisors to advise the legal staff if organizations offering to pay employees' travel expenses have or are seeking contracts or grants with AID. This information could be provided when approval for privately funded trips is requested. |
Closed – Implemented
AID amended its guidelines to require bureaus and offices to advise the General Counsel of organizations offering to pay employee travel expenses that have, or are seeking to do, business with the traveller's office or bureau. An accomplishment report is being processed.
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Topics
Air travel allowancesConflict of interestsEthical conductInternational travelNonprofit organizationsPrivate sectorQuestionable paymentsTravel costsFederal employeesGrant award