The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has effective controls over travel authorization and reimbursement in some areas but not in others GAO has said, adding that a revised system being implemented could help address some of the shortcomings.
For example, GAO found that 16 percent of travel authorizations did not include documentation of approval prior to travel, contrary to policy, “which could hinder the effective management of travel funds. Although unanticipated travel may require flexibility for travelers, strengthening controls to promote prior written authorization could help the division better ensure that travel is necessary and funds are available.”
Also, GAO estimated that 14 percent of division airfares were on noncontract carriers, and none of the eight highest cost vouchers GAO sampled had documentation of prior approvals as required. GAO estimated that 42 percent of the travel vouchers were not submitted within required time frames.
Travel charge card use appeared appropriate–more than 97 percent of purchases aligned with evidence of official travel–but the same could not be said of a fifth of cash advances and oversight of delinquent accounts was lacking.
The department agreed with GAO’s recommendations to strengthen controls on prior authorization of travel and timely submission of vouchers, evaluate whether controls on noncontract airfares are working, and improve oversight of delinquent travel card accounts.
