Q.  Several of our employees have had to travel to some locations damaged by recent hurricanes and often had to stay in lodgings and eat in locations at a considerable distance from their destinations, often paying higher amounts than local TDY per diem limits.  I know the travel regulations say they are entitled to per diem reimbursement in areas they are assigned to so how do I determine allowability of travel expenses?

A.  Interestingly, the General Services Administration issued September 29 a travel bulletin, effective until March 1, 2006, authorizing actual expense reimbursement for per diem expenses for employees traveling to areas affected by Hurricane Rita or Hurricane Katrina.  The bulletin states government agencies may waive the FTR 301-117 requirement to limit per diem travel to a TDY location.  The bulletin also states the waiver allows agencies to approve actual subsistence reimbursement that is less than 300 percent of the application per diem rate without further justification.  

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