Fedweek

The Defense Department has adopted several changes in per diem reimbursement policies that have applied to travelers of other federal agencies since January. One change, commonly called the conference lodging allowance, allows reimbursement of up to 25 percent above the standard per diem rate of an area for staying at the host hotel when attending a conference; the special allowance is deemed necessary because often hotels that host conferences are more expensive than the typical type of hotel at which federal travelers are expected to stay. The other change allows employees attending such conferences to accept light refreshments provided for free rather than requiring them to pay. The delay in applying the policies to DoD resulted from the need to pass the changes through that agency’s own set of travel rules, which apply to both civilian and military personnel.