**GAO-08-85R**                      Published: Nov 19, 2007. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

At the request of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, in September 2007 we reported on the governmentwide use of premium class travel. As part of the audit and related investigations, we tested premium class transactions at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of this letter is to provide the Acting Secretary of Agriculture with information on specific matters identified during our work that relate to weaknesses in internal controls at USDA. Further, this letter details the results of investigative work we performed related to allegations forwarded to us by USDA's Office of Inspector General of premium class travel abuses by executives at the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This letter contains six recommendations that warrant your attention.

## Recommendations

## Recommendations for Executive Action

See All 6 Recommendations

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## Topics

Government Operations

Air travel allowancesAuthorizationExpense allowancesExpense claimsFederal employeesFinancial managementInternal controlsQuestionable paymentsTransportation expense claimsTravel allowancesAccountabilityProgram abusesFinancial analysisPolicies and proceduresWaste, fraud, and abuse