R 102103Z OCT 12

ALCOAST 453/12
COMDTNOTE 4650
SUBJ: FY13-16 TRAVEL COST CEILINGS AND CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162054Z DEC 11/ALCOAST 571/11
1.  The Coast Guard has a responsibility to be responsible stewards
of taxpayer dollars, ensuring that government funds are used for
purposes that are appropriate, cost effective, and important to the
core mission of the Service.  Government funded travel and conference
attendance has garnered wide-spread attention and some criticism for
real and perceived abuses.  To curb spending and instill better
management practices, The White House Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) issued direction for agencies to reduce travel expenditures by
30 percent relative to FY10.  As a result, DHS has imposed travel
cost ceilings on each components travel expenditures for FY13-FY16.
2.  We are fully committed to meeting these non-discretionary
requirements. I have directed senior leaders around the Coast Guard
to reduce travel and conference attendance within their organizations
and to reverse the trend over the past few years of steadily
increasing annual travel expenditures. In an austere budget
environment increasing travel costs come at the expense of funding
available for operations, which is unsustainable. This is not just an
administrative requirement, it is about changing our organizational
behavior.
3.  Leaders through the organization must take action to establish
appropriate controls to ensure that travel requests are scrutinized
and represent the reasonable minimum needed to carry out Coast Guard
missions.  Consider the use of VTC or other alternative methods to
conduct business that historically has been accomplished by
traveling. Minimize the number of travelers as a matter of practice
and adjust the frequency or selectively eliminate events.
4. I will be establishing travel ceilings so that our targets are
clear. COMDT (CG-8) will publish guidance via ALCOAST with specifics
on implementation.  The ceiling will apply to all forms of travel
with an object class code beginning with "21", including operational
travel, non-operational travel, support travel, permanent change of
station travel, and vehicle leases.  Ceilings will be managed by
Resource Management Offices and Administrative Target Units, but the
success of this endeavor will rely on engaged leadership throughout
all levels of the organization.
5.  Conference attendance is under particular scrutiny and must be
reduced.  In managing conference attendance, again consider
alternative methods, reduce the number of attendees, reduce
frequency, and eliminate conference hosting or attendance that does
not directly and materially support Coast Guard missions. COMDT
(CG-8) will promulgate additional guidance and new restrictions to
coincide with the pending release of updated DHS conference guidance.
6.  We are facing challenging fiscal times.  I call upon every Coast
Guard member to do their part in building a culture of economy,
particularly in travel and conference attendance, so that we can
focus our resources on front line operations and support where they
are needed most to continue our high level of service to the Nation.
7.  VADM J. P. Currier, Vice Commandant, sends.
8.  Internet release authorized.