They achieved these improvements by consolidating travel management and processing centers, eliminating unnecessary review layers, simplifying the travel process, and streamlining and automating the expense reporting process and integrating it with the financial system. Most federal agencies’ administrative travel costs and processes, on the other hand, lag behind those of leading organizations, although some agencies have begun to close the gap. Many federal agencies use numerous processing centers, require multiple travel documents, and fill out these travel documents manually or maintain travel systems that do not have an agencywide automated interface with the financial system. In doing so, the leading organizations shared many of the same characteristics: they generally assessed travel management as part of a larger, financial management reengineering effort, they benchmarked themselves against other recognized organizations, and they instituted a common set of best practices. Some federal agencies have already begun to implement many of the best practices and reduce administrative costs. We also strongly urge agencies to study and implement the practices and approaches identified by the JFMIP travel improvement team.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO discussed efforts for improving governmentwide travel management, focusing on a comparison of civilian federal agencies' and private-sector travel management practices.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) private-sector organizations have cut travel processing costs and time by consolidating travel management and processing centers, eliminating unnecessary review layers, simplifying travel processing, and streamlining and automating the expense reporting process; (2) many federal agencies have not identified their administrative travel costs and processes; (3) many federal agencies use numerous processing centers, require multiple travel documents, and lack automated systems that interface with their financial systems; (4) private-sector organizations approach travel cost reduction by assessing travel management as part of the larger financial management system, benchmarking themselves against other organizations, and instituting a common set of best practices; (5) legislative and regulatory changes may be needed for federal agencies to implement some travel management improvements; and (6) some agencies have implemented changes or initiated pilots to improve travel management.