State Department
Cost of Unofficial Travel by the Secretary of State Gao ID: NSIAD-88-243FS September 30, 1988In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Secretary of State's personal travel, specifically: (1) the total cost to the government of such travel; (2) an itemized breakdown of air and ground transportation, lodging, per diem, salaries, and overtime; (3) telephone expenses for the Secretary, his family, staff, and security and communications personnel; and (4) the amount the Secretary reimbursed the government for such travel.
GAO found that: (1) the total cost to the U.S. government, excluding salaries, of the Secretary's nonofficial trips between January 1986 and July 1988 totalled $1,892,214; (2) the costs were due primarily to the use of military aircraft and State personnel to accompany the Secretary; and (3) the Secretary and others reimbursed the government $18,783 for the trips, based on the economy air fare rate plus one dollar.