VA Travel: Better Budgeting and Stronger Controls Needed
GGD-99-137
Published: Aug 23, 1999. Publicly Released: Aug 23, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed travel-related issues at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), focusing on: (1) how VA formulates its travel budget request; (2) whether VA's use of excess travel funds is in accordance with guidance from the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding the reprogramming of funds between programs, activities, or elements; (3) whether VA has adequate internal controls over the authority it grants to certain employees to authorize their own travel and approve their own travel vouchers; and (4) whether it has adequate control over employees who are issued limited open travel authorizations, which allow them to travel without additional authorization.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct appropriate officials to reexamine the budget formulation process, particularly with respect to the Veterans Health Administration's Medical Care appropriations account, to determine what steps can be taken to improve the accuracy of the travel budget requests. |
Closed – Not Implemented
VA did not concur with this recommendation.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct appropriate officials to follow congressional guidance directing VA to inform the Senate Appropriations Committee prior to reprogramming more than $250,000 in excess travel funds and see that any new agreements reached with the committee regarding the activities or amounts subject to reprogramming rules be documented. |
Closed – Implemented
VA submitted a letter on April 18, 2000, to staff of VA's House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, identifying the reprogramming base for each of VA's appropriated accounts. The letter identifies the programs, projects, and activities (PPA) that GAO considers to be subject to the reprogramming directive. VA will notify Congress of any movement of funds in excess of $250,000 between the PPAs. The Committees approved VA's PPA designations, and also asked the Department to track costs associated with certain initiatives of particular interest to Congress.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct appropriate officials to periodically monitor travel taken by employees who may authorize and approve their own travel and employees who have limited open travel authorizations to assess compliance with travel policies and regulations. |
Closed – Not Implemented
In October 2002, VA indicated that it has initiated a multi-step process to review and revise travel policy. As part of the revision, VA will issue guidelines on approving official responsibilities and monitoring travel of officials authorized to approve their own travel, and those employees with limited open travel authorities. In March 2003, VA indicated that these guidelines have not yet been issued.
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| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veteran Affairs should direct appropriate officials to reevaluate the manner in which limited open travel authorizations are administered, including: (1) whether funds are being obligated in accordance with VA policy; (2) whether the authorizations contain reasonable limitations on purposes, geographic areas, trip duration, and costs; and (3) whether the employees who have been issued limited open travel authorizations are expected to be frequent travellers, and if not, revoke or not renew those authorizations. |
Closed – Not Implemented
In October 2002, VA indicated that it is in the process of issuing a bulletin on the use of limited open authorizations. The bulletin will contain policy and procedures on issuing limited open authorizations, quarterly reviews of such authorizations, definitions of frequent travelers, and situations where it is appropriate to use limited open authorizations. In March 2003, VA indicated that this bulletin has not yet been issued.
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Topics
Federal employeesFunds managementInternal controlsNoncomplianceReporting requirementsReprogramming of appropriated fundsTravelTravel allowancesBudget requestsExpenditure of funds