GSA updates travel regs as E-Travel deadline nears

The General Services Administration has refined existing federal travel regulations as the deadline for agencies to implement an E-Travel system draws near.In a , GSA said it had updated the Federal Travel Regulation to incorporate the use of E-Travel, which agencies must use almost exclusively starting Sept. 30.Although the new regulations provide some flexibility, agencies will essentially be required to use the system next month.Managed by GSA, the E-Travel system was one of the original 25 E-Government initiatives. It is an effort to encourage agencies to streamline their travel costs by using a standardized portal that lets employees keep track of their own travel expenses.GSA, in its notice, said employees should use an E-Travel system whenever possible, though agencies can grant an exception when such use:The notice also reminds agencies to meet with OMB as soon as possible, if they haven’t already, to allocate budget and personnel resources to meet the Sept. 30 deadline.