New travel rules would allow companies to reimburse feds

Federal employees would be able to take occasional trips paid for by private organizations-even if, in some instances, they don't get approval from their agency's general counsel or ethics chief until after they return home. Chapter 304 of the Federal Travel Regulation governs payment of travel expenses by non-federal sources. Under proposed amendments to the rule, federal employees would be allowed--under certain circumstances--to get retroactive permission from their agency to accept payment for travel expenses by a company, corporation or other non-federal government entity to such events as conferences, seminars and symposiums. "Federal employees can't solicit payment," said a General Services Administration official. "But if a company does offer to pay for their lodging, they can go to their agency for permission." The proposed rule, published by GSA in the Federal Register on Friday, would further allow federal employees who attended a conference or other meeting and found their accommodations already provided to get permission from their agency to accept it after they return home. Or if the employee got prior approval for travel, but got off the plane and found the company or organization had booked them a hotel room, too, the employee could get approval for the accommodations as well upon his or her return. GSA is accepting comments on the proposed rule until July 3. Send them to: