GSA Releases FY 2022 Per Diem Highlights

The General Services Administration (GSA) recently released the federal per diem reimbursement rate that applies to federal employees traveling in the continental U.S. (CONUS) during FY 2022. Federal agencies use per diem rates to reimburse employees for expenditures incurred during official travel.

Federal per diem reimbursement rates consist of a maximum lodging allowance component and a meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) component. Most of CONUS (approximately 2600 counties) is covered by the standard per diem rate of $155 ($96 lodging, $59 M&IE). There are 319 non-standard areas (NSAs) with higher per diem rates.

Since FY 2006, GSA has determined maximum lodging allowances by using the average daily rate (ADR). For more information about how lodging per diem rates are determined, visit Factors Influencing Lodging Rates.

According to GSA, Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) allows for actual expense reimbursement when per diem rates are insufficient to meet necessary expenses. For more information, see FTR §301-11.300 through 306.

For FY 2022, all current NSA lodging per diem rates will remain at FY 2021 levels. The standard lodging per diem rate will also remain unchanged at $96. Finally, the M&IE NSA tiers range from $59-$79, and the standard M&IE rate is $59.