Why Government Travel Per Diems Cost You More Than You Think

Lucas and Luna explore the hidden economics of government travel reimbursement rates, or per diems. Using the US General Services Administration's 2026 figures for Washington DC — $316 per day for lodging and meals — they unpack how these administrative numbers become a massive fiscal drag. They trace how per diems inflate costs for conferences, training, and routine field work, creating a perverse incentive for agencies to spend up to the cap. The episode compares the federal system to private-sector corporate travel policies and examines a 2024 Government Accountability Office report that found agencies could save $480 million annually by tightening meal reimbursement rules. They also look at how local governments in California and New York set their own rates, often exceeding what private employers pay. A concrete look at how small bureaucratic numbers add up to big budget trouble. #GovernmentTravel #PerDiem #GSA #FederalBudget #TravelReimbursement #GAO #FiscalPolicy #Economics #PublicSpending #AdministrativeCosts #BudgetWaste #WashingtonDC #California #NewYork #CorporateTravel #GovernmentEfficiency #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo