Collapse to view only § 451. Definitions
- § 451. Definitions
- § 452. Allowable travel and transportation: general authorities
- § 453. Allowable travel and transportation: specific authorities
- § 454. Travel and transportation: pilot programs
- § 455. Appropriations for travel: may not be used for attendance at certain meetings
- § 456. Managed travel program refunds
§ 451. Definitions
(a)Definitions Relating to Persons.—In this subchapter and subchapter II:
(1) The term “administering Secretary” or “administering Secretaries” means the following:
(A) The Secretary of Defense, with respect to the armed forces (including the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Navy).
(B) The Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(C) The Secretary of Commerce, with respect to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(D) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to the Public Health Service.
(2) The term “authorized traveler” means a person who is authorized travel and transportation allowances when performing official travel ordered or authorized by the administering Secretary. Such term includes the following:
(A) A member of the uniformed services.
(B) A family member of a member of the uniformed services.
(C) A person acting as an escort or attendant for a member or family member who is traveling on official travel or is traveling with the remains of a deceased member or as an escort or attendant for dependents of a member for necessary travel performed not later than one year after the member is unable to accompany the dependents who are incapable of traveling alone.
(D) A person who participates in a military funeral honors detail.
(E) A Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet or midshipman.
(F) An applicant or rejected applicant for enlistment.
(G) Any person whose employment or service is considered directly related to a Government official activity or function under regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title.
(H) Any other person not covered by subparagraphs (A) through (G) who is determined by the administering Secretary pursuant to regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title as warranting the provision of travel benefits for purposes of the following:
(i) Transportation of survivors to attend burial services or transfer of deceased members after death overseas as provided in section 453(f) of this title.
(ii) Transportation of designated individuals incident to the hospitalization of members as provided in section 452(b)(12) of this title.
(iii) Transportation of designated individuals incident to the repatriation of members as provided in section 452(b)(13) of this title.
(iv) Transportation of non-medical attendants as provided in section 452(b)(14) of this title.
(v) Transportation of designated individuals to attend Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events as provided in section 452(b)(15) of this title.
(vi) Transportation of a person with regard to a single event when the administering Secretary determines that the travel is necessary to ensure fairness and equity, respond to emergency or humanitarian circumstances, or serve the best interests of the Government.
(vii) Transportation of a dependent child of a member of the uniformed services to the United States to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the permanent duty assignment location of the member is outside the continental United States (other than in Alaska or Hawaii).
(viii) Transportation of a dependent child of a member of the uniformed services within the United States to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the permanent duty assignment location of the member is in Alaska or Hawaii and the school is located in a State outside of the permanent duty assignment location.
(ix) Transportation of a dependent to a location where a member of the uniformed services is on permanent duty aboard a ship that is overhauling, inactivating, or under construction.
(3) The term “family member”, with respect to a member of the uniformed services, means the following:
(A) A dependent, as defined in section 401(a) of this title.
(B) A child, as defined in section 401(b)(1) of this title.
(C) A parent, as defined in section 401(b)(2) of this title.
(D) A sibling of the member.
(E) A former spouse of the member.
(b)Definitions Relating to Travel and Transportation Allowances.—In this subchapter and subchapter II:
(1) The term “official travel” means the following:
(A) Military duty or official business performed by an authorized traveler away from a duty assignment location or other authorized location.
(B) Travel performed by an authorized traveler ordered to relocate from a permanent duty station to another permanent duty station.
(C) Travel performed by an authorized traveler ordered to the first permanent duty station, or separated or retired from uniformed service.
(D) Local travel in or around the temporary duty or permanent duty station.
(E) Other travel as authorized or ordered by the administering Secretary.
(2) The term “actual and necessary expenses” means expenses incurred in fact by an authorized traveler as a reasonable consequence of official travel.
(3) The term “travel allowances” means the daily lodging, meals, and other related expenses, including relocation expenses, incurred by an authorized traveler while on official travel.
(4) The term “transportation allowances” means the costs of temporarily or permanently moving an authorized traveler, the personal property of an authorized traveler, or a combination thereof.
(5) The term “transportation-, lodging-, or meals-in-kind” means transportation, lodging, or meals provided by the Government without cost to an authorized traveler.
(6) The term “miscellaneous expenses” means authorized expenses incurred in addition to authorized allowances during the performance of official travel by an authorized traveler.
(7) The term “personal property”, with respect to transportation allowances, includes baggage, furniture, and other household items, clothing, privately owned vehicles, house trailers, mobile homes, and any other personal items that would not otherwise be prohibited by any other provision of law or regulation prescribed under section 464 of this title.
(8) The term “relocation allowances” means the costs associated with relocating a member of the uniformed services and the member’s dependents between an old and new temporary or permanent duty assignment location or other authorized location. Such costs include pet quarantine expenses.
(9) The term “dislocation allowances” means the costs associated with relocation of the household of a member of the uniformed services and the member’s dependents in relation to a change in the member’s permanent duty assignment location ordered for the convenience of the Government or incident to an evacuation.
(10)
(A) The term “permanent duty assignment location” means—
(i) the official station of a member of the uniformed services; or
(ii) the residence of a dependent of a member of the uniformed services.
(B) As used in subparagraph (A)(ii), the residence of a dependent who is a student not living with the member while at school is the permanent duty assignment location of the dependent student.
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1453; amended Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 621(a)(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VI, § 603(b), (c)(2), (d)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1766, 1767; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 626(h)(6), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2629.)
§ 452. Allowable travel and transportation: general authorities
(a)In General.—Except as otherwise prohibited by law, a member of the uniformed services or other authorized traveler may be provided transportation-, lodging-, or meals-in-kind, or actual and necessary expenses of travel and transportation, for, or in connection with, official travel under circumstances as specified in regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title.
(b)Specific Circumstances.—The authority under subsection (a) includes travel under or in connection with, but not limited to, the following circumstances, to the extent specified in regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title:
(1) Temporary duty that requires travel between a permanent duty assignment location and another authorized temporary duty location, and travel in or around the temporary duty location.
(2) Permanent change of station that requires travel between an old and new temporary or permanent duty assignment location or other authorized location.
(3) Temporary duty or assignment relocation related to consecutive overseas tours or in-place-consecutive overseas tours.
(4) Recruiting duties for the armed forces.
(5) Assignment or detail to another Government department or agency.
(6) Rest and recuperative leave.
(7) Convalescent leave.
(8) Reenlistment leave.
(9) Reserve component inactive-duty training performed outside the normal commuting distance of the member’s permanent residence.
(10) Ready Reserve muster duty.
(11) Unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstances.
(12) Presence of family members at a military medical facility incident to the illness or injury of members.
(13) Presence of family members at the repatriation of members held captive.
(14) Presence of non-medical attendants for very seriously or seriously wounded, ill, or injured members.
(15) Attendance at Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events.
(16) Missing status, as determined by the Secretary concerned under chapter 10 of this title.
(17) Attendance at or participation in international sports competitions described under section 717 of title 10.
(18) Travel by a dependent child to the United States to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the permanent duty assignment location of the member of the uniformed services is outside the continental United States (other than in Alaska or Hawaii).
(19) Travel by a dependent child within the United States to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the permanent duty assignment location of the member of the uniformed services is in Alaska or Hawaii and the school is located in a State outside of the permanent duty assignment location.
(20) Subject to subsection (i), travel by a dependent to a location where a member of the uniformed services is on permanent duty aboard a ship that is overhauling, inactivating, or under construction.
(21) Presence of family members at the funeral and memorial services of members.
(22) Permanent change of assignment to or from a naval vessel undergoing nuclear refueling or defueling and any concurrent complex overhaul, even if such assignment is within the same area as the current assignment of the member.
(23) Current assignment to a naval vessel entering or exiting nuclear refueling or defueling and any concurrent complex overhaul.
(c)Matters Included.—Travel and transportation allowances which may be provided under subsection (a) include the following:
(1) Allowances for transportation (including fares and tolls, without regard to distance travelled), lodging, and meals.
(2) Dislocation or relocation allowances paid in connection with a change in a member’s temporary or permanent duty assignment location.
(3) A partial dislocation allowance paid to a member ordered to occupy or vacate housing provided by the United States.
(4) Passport and visa fees required for foreign travel.
(5) Other related miscellaneous expenses.
(d)Mode of Providing Travel and Transportation Allowances.—Any authorized travel and transportation may be provided—
(1) as an actual expense;
(2) as an authorized allowance;
(3) in-kind; or
(4) using a combination of the authorities under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
(e)Travel and Transportation Allowances When Travel Orders Are Modified, etc.—An authorized traveler whose travel and transportation order or authorization is canceled, revoked, or modified may be allowed actual and necessary expenses or travel and transportation allowances in connection with travel performed pursuant to such order or authorization.
(f)Advance Payments.—An authorized traveler may be allowed advance payments for authorized travel and transportation allowances.
(g)Responsibility for Unauthorized Expenses.—Any unauthorized travel or transportation expense is not the responsibility of the United States.
(h)Relationship to Other Authorities.—The administering Secretary may not provide payment under this section for an expense for which payment may be provided from any other appropriate Government or non-Government entity.
(i)Dependent Transportation Incident to Ship Construction, Inactivation, and Overhauling.—The authority under subsection (a) for travel in connection with circumstances described in subsection (b)(20) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(1) The member of the uniformed services must be permanently assigned to the ship for 31 or more consecutive days to be eligible for allowances, and the transportation allowances accrue on the 31st day and every 60 days thereafter.
(2) Transportation in kind, reimbursement for personally procured transportation, or a monetary allowance for mileage in place of the cost of transportation may be provided, in lieu of the member’s entitlement to transportation, for the member’s dependents from the location that was the home port of the ship before commencement of overhaul or inactivation to the port of overhaul or inactivation.
(3) The total reimbursement for transportation for the member’s dependents may not exceed the cost of one Government-procured commercial round-trip travel.
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1455; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 607(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1425; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 605, title XII, § 1299N, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3672, 4016; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VI, §§ 603(c)(1), (d)(1), 623, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1766, 1767, 1772; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 621, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2625.)
§ 453. Allowable travel and transportation: specific authorities
(a)In General.—In addition to any other authority for the provision of travel and transportation allowances, the administering Secretaries may provide travel and transportation allowances under this subchapter in accordance with this section.
(b)Authorized Absence From Temporary Duty Location.—An authorized traveler may be paid travel and transportation allowances, or reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses of travel, incurred at a temporary duty location during an authorized absence from that location.
(c)Movement of Personal Property.—
(1) A member of a uniformed service may be allowed moving expenses and transportation allowances for self and dependents associated with the movement of personal property and household goods, including such expenses when associated with a self-move.
(2) The authority in paragraph (1) includes the movement and temporary and non-temporary storage of personal property, household goods, and privately owned vehicles (but not to exceed one privately owned vehicle per member household) in connection with the temporary or permanent move between authorized locations.
(3) For movement of household goods, the administering Secretaries shall prescribe weight allowances in regulations under section 464 of this title. The prescribed weight allowances may not exceed 18,000 pounds (including household goods in temporary storage, but excluding packing and crating), except that the administering Secretary may, on a case-by-case basis, authorize additional weight allowances as necessary.
(4) The administering Secretary may prescribe the terms, rates, and conditions that authorize a member of the uniformed services to ship or store a privately owned vehicle.
(5) No carrier, port agent, warehouseman, freight forwarder, or other person involved in the transportation of property may have any lien on, or hold, impound, or otherwise interfere with, the movement of baggage and household goods being transported under this section.
(d)Unusual or Emergency Circumstances.—An authorized traveler may be provided travel and transportation allowances under this section for unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstances, including circumstances warranting evacuation from a permanent duty assignment location.
(e)Particular Separation Provisions.—The administering Secretary may provide travel-in-kind and transportation-in-kind for the following persons in accordance with regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title:
(1) A member who is retired, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list, under chapter 61 of title 10.
(2) A member who is retired with pay under any other law or who, immediately following at least eight years of continuous active duty with no single break therein of more than 90 days, is discharged with separation pay or is involuntarily released from active duty with separation pay or readjustment pay.
(3) A member who is discharged under section 1173 of title 10.
(f)Attendance at Memorial Ceremonies and Services.—A family member or member of the uniformed services who attends a deceased member’s repatriation, burial, or memorial ceremony or service may be provided travel and transportation allowances to the extent provided in regulations prescribed under section 464 of this title.
(g)Reimbursement of Qualifying Spouse Relicensing Costs and Business Costs.—
(1) From amounts otherwise made available for a fiscal year to provide travel and transportation allowances under this chapter, the Secretary concerned may reimburse a member of the uniformed services for qualified relicensing costs and qualified business costs of the spouse of the member when—
(A) the member relocates to a new jurisdiction or geographic area as the result of—
(i) an assignment to a duty station;
(ii) a reassignment, either as a result of a permanent change of station or permanent change of assignment, between duty stations;
(iii) a transfer from a regular component of a uniformed service into the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of a uniformed service, if the member is authorized a final move from the last duty station to the new jurisdiction or geographic area; or
(iv) placement on the temporary disability retired list under chapter 61 of title 10; and
(B) the movement of the member’s dependents is authorized at the expense of the United States under this section as part of the relocation.
(2)
(A) Reimbursement provided to a member under this subsection for qualified relicensing costs may not exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in paragraph (1).
(B) Reimbursement provided to a member under this subsection for qualified business costs may not exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in paragraph (1).
(3) No reimbursement may be provided under this subsection for qualified relicensing costs or qualified business costs paid or incurred after December 31, 2029.
(4) In this subsection, the term “qualified relicensing costs” means costs, including exam, continuing education courses, business license, permit, and registration fees, incurred by the spouse of a member if—
(A) the spouse was licensed or certified in a profession, or owned a business, during the member’s previous duty assignment and requires a new professional license or certification, or business license or permit, to engage in that profession in a new jurisdiction because of the member’s relocation described in paragraph (1); and
(B) the costs were incurred or paid to secure or maintain the professional license or certification, or business license or permit, from the new jurisdiction in connection with such relocation.
(5) In this subsection, the term “qualified business costs” means costs, including moving services for equipment, equipment removal, new equipment purchases, information technology expenses, and inspection fees, incurred by the spouse of a member if—
(A) the spouse owned a business during the member’s previous duty assignment and the costs result from a the member’s relocation described in paragraph (1); and
(B) the costs were incurred or paid to move such business to a new location in connection with such relocation.
(h)Reimbursement for Transportation of Pets Arising From Certain Permanent Changes of Stations.—
(1) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member for any cost related to the relocation of a pet that arises from a permanent change of station of such member within the continental United States. Such reimbursement may not exceed $550 for each such permanent change of station.
(2) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member for any cost related to the relocation of a pet that arises from a permanent change of station of such member to or from a duty station located outside the continental United States. Such reimbursement may not exceed $4,000 for each such permanent change of station.
(i)Attendance at Professional Military Education Institution or Training Classes.—
(1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may authorize temporary duty status, and travel and transportation allowances payable to a member in such status, for a member under the jurisdiction of such Secretary who is reassigned—
(A) between duty stations located within the United States;
(B) for a period of not more than one year;
(C) for the purpose of participating in professional military education or training classes,
(D) with orders to return to the duty station where the member maintains primary residence and the dependents of such member reside.
(2) If the Secretary of the military department concerned assigns permanent duty status to a member described in paragraph (1), such member shall be eligible for travel and transportation allowances including the following:
(A) Transportation, including mileage at the same rate paid for a permanent change of station.
(B) Per diem while traveling between the permanent duty station and professional military education institution or training site.
(C) Per diem paid in the same manner and amount as temporary lodging expenses.
(D) Per diem equal to the amount of the basic allowance for housing under section 403 of this title paid to a member—
(i) in the grade of such member;
(ii) without dependents;
(iii) who resides in the military housing area in which the professional military education institution or training site is located.
(E) Movement of household goods in an amount determined under applicable regulations.
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1457; amended Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 621(c)(1), (h), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 783, 784; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 522(c), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2116; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 622(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3676; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, §§ 622(a), 623–625, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2625–2627; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 635, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 298.)
§ 454. Travel and transportation: pilot programs
(a)Pilot Programs.—Except as otherwise prohibited by law, the Secretary of Defense may conduct pilot programs to evaluate alternative travel and transportation programs, policies, and processes for Department of Defense authorized travelers. Any such pilot program shall be designed to enhance cost savings or other efficiencies that accrue to the Government and be conducted so as to evaluate one or more of the following:
(1) Alternative methods for performing and reimbursing travel.
(2) Means for limiting the need for travel.
(3) Means for reducing the environmental impact of travel.
(b)Limitations.—
(1) Not more than three pilot programs may be carried out under subsection (a) at any one time.
(2) The duration of a pilot program may not exceed four years.
(3) The authority to carry out a pilot program is subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
(c)Reports.—
(1) Not later than 30 days before the commencement of a pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program. The report on a pilot program under this paragraph shall set forth a description of the pilot program, including the following:
(A) The purpose of the pilot program.
(B) The duration of the pilot program.
(C) The cost savings or other efficiencies anticipated to accrue to the Government under the pilot program.
(2) Not later than 60 days after the completion of a pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program. The report on a pilot program under this paragraph shall set forth the following:
(A) A description of results of the pilot program.
(B) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the pilot program.
(d)Congressional Defense Committees Defined.—In this section, the term “congressional defense committees” has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10.
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1458.)
§ 455. Appropriations for travel: may not be used for attendance at certain meetings
Appropriations of the Department of Defense that are available for travel may not, without the approval of the Secretary concerned or his designee, be used for expenses incident to attendance of a member of an armed force under that department at a meeting of a technical, scientific, professional, or similar organization.
(Pub. L. 87–649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 476, § 412; renumbered § 455, Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(d)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1460.)
§ 456. Managed travel program refunds
(a)Credit of Refunds.—The Secretary of Defense may credit refunds attributable to Department of Defense managed travel programs as a direct result of official travel to such operation and maintenance or research, development, test, and evaluation accounts of the Department as designated by the Secretary that are available for obligation for the fiscal year in which the refund or amount is collected.
(b)Use of Refunds.—Refunds credited under subsection (a) may only be used for official travel or operations and efficiency improvements for improved financial management of official travel.
(c)Definitions.—In this section:
(1)Managed travel program.—The term “managed travel program” includes air, rental car, train, bus, dining, lodging, and travel management, but does not include rebates or refunds attributable to the use of the Government travel card, the Government Purchase Card, or Government travel arranged by Government Contracted Travel Management Centers.
(2)Refund.—The term “refund” includes miscellaneous receipts credited to the Department identified as a refund, rebate, repayment, or other similar amounts collected.
(Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 606(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1424.)