Each agency also can grant its own exemptions for example, if an employee needs to be undercover. If expenses cannot be paid with a charge card, employees must use their own funds, a centrally billed account, travel advances, government issued travelers checks or a government transportation request. Agencies must reimburse allowable expenses within 30 calendar days of receiving an employee's voucher. Agencies that do not reimburse travelers promptly must pay interest to the traveler at the current Treasury rate and the late payment fee that appears on the card. But there's a punishment if agencies don't do their job if they don't pay in 30 days.
Travelers appreciate that fact.
We have to make sure the employees are made whole. The rule forbids the use of travel charge cards for anything other than official government travel. Employees can expect disciplinary action for buying personal items with a government card, and the regulation outlines steps agencies can take if employees don't pay their bills on time. The new rule puts into effect the Travel and Transportation Reform Act provision requiring federal employees to pay travel expenses with charge cards. Katy Saldarini contributed to this report.