Applicability of Travel Reimbursement Limitation to Travel Expenses of Private-Sector Experts

Clarification was requested of the applicability of the annual employee travel expense limitation contained in appropriations to the National Center for Productivity and Quality of Working Life to travel expenses of uncompensated private-sector experts who voluntarily participated in meetings sponsored by that agency. The limitation is not applicable since the experts served only in a representative capacity to present the views of their respective groups and were, therefore, not Government employees. The expenses for which these individuals are entitled to reimbursement are governed by the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5703 even though persons engaged in invitational travel are not "employees" for the purposes of the appropriation limitation.