Travel Policy Simplification Driving Travel System Modernization GovTravels 2018 Department of Defense
Joint Travel Regulations Re-write Analyze travel and transportation allowances in order to simplify, standardize and/or provide cost savings and rewrite the Joint Travel Regulations Began surge effort in April 2016 Reduced the Joint Travel Regulations from 1,646 pages to 842 pages (to date) Complete Chapters 1-3: Temporary Duty Travel Chapter 4: Government Funded Leave Travel Chapter 5: Permanent Duty Travel for Service Members Chapter 6: Evacuation Travel Chapter 8: Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance Up Next Chapter 5: Permanent Duty Travel for Civilian Employees (April) Chapter 9: Temporary Lodging Allowance and Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (April) Chapter 10: Basic Allowance for Housing (June) 2
Joint Travel Regulations Rewrite (continued) Appendices Current remaining Appendices A: Definitions and Acronyms J: Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (update and publish April 1) K: Overseas Housing Allowance (update and publish June 1) Remaining Appendices deleted or moved to the DTMO website Deleted E: Invitational Travel G: Reimburseable/Non-reimburseable Expenses Quick Reference Tables O: TDY Travel Allowances P: City Pair Program R: Conferences U: R&R Locations/Destinations Moved to DTMO Website F: Consumable Goods Allowances H: Travel Purpose Identifiers and Premium Class Transportation N: Move in Housing Allowance Q: OCONUS Tour Lenghts/Tours of Duty S: Funded Environmental And Morale Leave Locations/Destinations W: Administrative Weight Allowance Locations 3
Policy Simplification and the Cross Functional Team Travel Created Appendix B in the Joint Travel Regulations to support the Cross-Functional Team Travel Appendix B provides policy guidance on Travel and Transportation allowances to implement in the CFT-T solution The first draft of Appendix B, published March 1, identifies travel and transportation allowances payable for short-term business travel for DoD Civilian employees and Service members Future iterations will expand to include additional types of travel (e.g., Long Term TDY, Group Travel, Government Funded Leave Travel, Permanent Duty Travel, Evacuation Travel) Policy simplification is a major driver to modernization and we will continue to standardize and simplify policy where possible to facilitate the application of industry leading technology and best practices 4
JTR Basis for Authority The Joint Travel Regulations applies to Service members of the seven Uniformed Services, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Public Health Service, as approved by the Per Diem Committee Travel policies in the Joint Travel Regulations are based on multiple authorities: U.S. Code General Services Administration s Federal Travel Regulation Department of State Standardized Regulations Decisions rendered by the Comptroller General of the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals 5
Joint Travel Regulations Change Management Process Standard Policy Changes Policy Simplification Changes 6
Policy Simplification Challenges Changes impacting civilian employees are subject to collective bargaining with Unions Changes require coordination/approval from Office of Personnel Management, General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of State, plus Implementing Secretaries Most complications are related to cost savings ($1B annually) and DoD unique missions Government Air Government Quarters Government meals (Uniformed members) Integrated Lodging Program Reduced Incidental Expenses Outside the Continental U.S. Flat Rate Per Diem 7
Policy Simplification Challenges (continued) SecDef issues regulations in concert with the Administering Secretaries from the Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration DoD must also follow the same laws as other Agencies Travel and Transportation Reform Act Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act Fly America Act Internal Revenue Code Status of Forces Agreements and other treaties DoD follows GSA per diem and mileage rules & rates DoD must follow the Federal Travel Regulation & OPM for civilians employees DoD must also follow Department of State Standardized Regulations and the Foreign Affairs Manual for civilians employees in foreign locations 8
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