[GSA Proposal To Pay Transition Travel Expenses]

The general counsel for the General Services Administration (GSA) requested GAO approval of a proposal for the agency to pay the proportionate fares of any invited guests who accompany a former President during his traditional departure flight from Washington. The Administrator of General Services is authorized to provide services and facilities upon request to each former President and each former Vice President for use in connection with winding up the affairs of his office which are of the same general character as authorized to be provided to Presidents-elect and Vice-Presidents-elect. Necessary services may include payment of travel expenses for persons serving without compensation as may be appropriate. In the past, GSA has not objected to paying travel expenses incurred by members of the general public where those persons were invited to perform some transition function. To avoid trying to determine whether a particular individual is on the inauguration day flight on the basis of a substantive transition role rather than a ceremonial role, GSA proposes recognition of the ceremonial aspects of this particular travel. The sole criteria for such payment out of the transition account would be that they were invited to travel by the former President. GSA stated that this standard would be applied only to departing travel on inauguration day and could not be used for other travel during the transition period. GAO had no objection to the GSA proposal. Accordingly, the funds appropriated to GSA to carry out the purposes of the Transition Act may be used to pay such travel expenses. This standard will not apply to Secret Service or media personnel whose organizations are responsible for their employees' travel. In addition, GSA will assure that inauguration day travel with the former President is not subject to abuse.