In addition, while the total number of relocations authorized and the total number of relocations made fluctuated yearly across the organizations that reported data for all 5 fiscal years, there was moderate overall change between fiscal years 1991 and 1995. Reported Civilian Employee Relocations Authorized

Ninety-seven federal organizations that responded to our survey reported that they authorized 132,837 civilian employees to relocate at the government’s expense from fiscal year 1991 through fiscal year 1995.However, the total number of relocations authorized is probably understated because 7 of the 97 organizations did not, for various reasons, provide this relocation information for all 5 fiscal years. Overall, total relocations made increased about 12.5 percent from fiscal year 1991 to fiscal year 1995. Federal Organizations Reported Billions in Costs to Relocate Civilian Employees

Most of the federal organizations that responded to our survey reported obligating over $3 billion for relocations and the other organizations reported expending over $350 million for relocations during fiscal years 1991 through 1995. Across the organizations that provided data for all 5 fiscal years, total relocation obligations and total relocation expenditures varied yearly. Overall, total relocation obligations increased about 16 percent from fiscal year 1991 to fiscal year 1995. This increase was not greatly influenced by one organization or a small group of organizations. Overall, total relocation expenditures increased about 88 percent from fiscal year 1991 to fiscal year 1995. The Navy accounted for this increase because its reported relocation expenditures more than quadrupled during this period. Excluding the Navy from the total expenditures, the 21 remaining organizations’ total reported relocation expenditures decreased by less than 1 percent, from $34.7 million in fiscal year 1991 to $34.6 million in fiscal year 1995. Number of Federal Organizations Reporting Mandatory Rotational Policies

Fifteen federal organizations reported that they had rotational policies that required some of their civilian employees to relocate on a prescribed schedule. Among these organizations, their estimated annual percentages ranged from 100 to less than 1. These relocations made—triggered by rotational policies—accounted for about 6.9 percent of the total relocations made that were reported by the organizations we surveyed. Fish and Wildlife Service (continued)
Offices, boards, and divisions National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Research and Special Programs Administration Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Bureau of Engraving and Printing Bureau of the Public Debt Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Departmental Offices and Office of the Inspector General Department of Housing and Urban Development (continued)

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

As agreed, our objectives were to provide information for the executive branch departments and largest independent agencies on (1) the total number of civilian employees who were relocated at the federal government’s expense, (2) the total cost of these relocations to the government, and (3) the agencies that had rotational policies requiring their civilian employees to relocate. As a result, for the number of relocations, 97 organizations reported relocations that they authorized and the other 23 organizations reported the relocations that they made.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the number of civilian employees relocated during fiscal years (FY) 1991 and 1995 and the associated costs of these relocations, focusing on: (1) the total number of civilian employees who were relocated at the federal government's expense; (2) the total cost of these relocations to the government; (3) the agencies that had rotational policies requiring their civilian employees to relocate; and (4) trends for the number and cost of civilian employee relocations during this period.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that, for FY 1991 through 1995: (1) 97 federal organizations reported authorizing about 132,800 relocations, and 23 other organizations reported making about 40,200 relocations; (2) a small number of organizations accounted for the bulk of the relocations authorized or made; (3) while the total numbers of relocations authorized and made fluctuated yearly across the organizations that provided data for all 5 fiscal years, there was moderate change in these totals between FY 1991 and 1995; (4) across the organizations that provided data for all 5 fiscal years, the total number of relocations authorized decreased by less than 1 percent (89 organizations) and the total number of relocations made increased by about 12.5 percent (19 organizations) from FY 1991 to 1995; (5) 97 federal organizations reported obligating about $3.4 billion for relocations, and 23 other organizations reported expending about $363 million for relocations; (6) a small number of organizations accounted for the bulk of the relocation obligations or expenditures; (7) across the organizations that provided data for all 5 fiscal years, total relocation obligations varied and total relocation expenditures increased yearly; (8) there was noticeable change in these totals between FY 1991 and 1995; (9) in constant 1995 dollars, total relocation obligations increased about 16 percent (83 organizations) and total relocation expenditures increased about 88 percent (22 organizations) from FY 1991 to 1995; (10) for the 22 organizations, this increase was due to the Department of the Navy's expenditures; (11) excluding the Navy's expenditures, the 21 remaining organizations' total expenditures decreased by less than 1 percent during the period; (12) 15 federal organizations reported that they had mandatory rotational policies requiring some of their employees to rotate on a prescribed schedule; (13) most of these organizations attributed their policies to federal regulations that limit overseas tours of duty; and (14) based on data provided by these 15 organizations, GAO estimated that these rotational policies accounted for about 19 percent of the total relocations reported as authorized and about 7 percent of the total relocations reported as made during this period.