A bipartisan group of members of Congress as well as a coalition of unions that represent civilian employees at DoD are working to overturn a change in long-term per diem reimbursement taking effect November 1.
Under the change, for long-term temporary duty of 31 -180 days, new authorized rate is 75 percent of the locality rate (lodging plus meals & incidental expenses) payable for each full day of temporary duty at that location; and for TDY greater than 180 days, 55 percent. On the travel day to the TDY location, the traveler is to receive up to 100 percent of the lodging per diem at the locality rate and 75 of the meals and incidental expenses rate. “Data analysis demonstrates the flat rate per diem adequately covers lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, more accurately reflecting actual costs incurred,” DoD said in announcing the policy, saying that savings can be achieved by staying in extended-stay type of lodgings for assignments of 31 days or more.
Said a letter to the Pentagon from 28 members of Congress, led by Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., “The Department should not put its workers in a position where they are required to travel for work but have to pay out of pocket for basic necessities. Furthermore, as rental costs and average daily rates at hotels are trending upward nationally alongside the economic recovery, DoD could very well find itself priced out of certain markets if per diem rates are artificially capped as this policy would establish.”
However, a group of unions has asked Senate appropriators to block the change as part of a budget measure that Congress will have to pass in its upcoming post-election session to fund the government once a temporary extension expires December 10. They said the change will “force trivial savings in the travel budget by taking money from the personal pockets of federal workers who volunteer to travel for extended periods of time, rather than addressing the incentive issue directly.” They also argued that some DoD components have not lived up to bargaining obligations on the issue.
The department already has carried out changes making ATM fees, laundry expenses and transportation tips no longer separately reimbursable from the standard incidentals expense portion.
The DoD policy is here: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/news.cfm?ID=29
