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Review of Selected Travel Policies and Practices

B-164031(4) Published: Nov 09, 1979. Publicly Released: Nov 09, 1979.
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Highlights

GAO was requested to review selected travel policies and practices of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). RRB travel costs were $568,000 in fiscal year 1976, $794,000 in 1979, and are projected to reach $944,000 in 1980. Most of the increase was for headquarter's travel, which more than doubled. Regional costs increased 23 percent. These travel costs exceeded the amounts approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congress. The President, Congress, and OMB called for holding travel costs down by minimizing unnecessary travel costs and eliminating nonessential travel. In 1978, OMB issued a bulletin with recommendations on how to accomplish this. RRB is now considering the implementation of some of these recommendations, and the Chief Executive Officer has agreed to take the following actions recommended by GAO: (1) assess the need for certain travel and the number of attendees at certain meetings; (2) limit use of first-class air travel and require authorization or approval of such travel; (3) establish a system to assure full advantage is taken of excursion rates, discount fares, and items such as airline discount coupons; (4) stress greater use of GSA vehicles instead of privately owned vehicles for official travel; (5) consider limiting the amount allowed for meals and miscellaneous subsistence when travel is on an actual cost basis; (6) consider limiting the use of blanket travel orders; and (7) establish a system for more closely monitoring actual with budgeted travel expenditures.

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Independent agenciesPolicy evaluationTravelTravel costsRailroad retirementHuman capital managementAir travelAirlinesActual costsExpenditure of funds