The General Services Administration (GSA) has finalized a rule that changes how relocation miscellaneous expenses allowances (MEA) are handled for federal employees. Previously, the lump sum amounts were listed in the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); now, they will be published in FTR Bulletins, making it easier to update the amounts based on the Consumer Price Index. This change aims to provide more flexibility and accurate compensation for employees, but it may lead to a small increase in costs for the federal government. The rule also clarifies which expenses may or may not be reimbursed under MEA and ensures that the rules are easy to follow.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. government made a change to how they handle moving money for workers moving to a new place for work. Instead of keeping the money rules in a big rulebook, they'll put them in smaller updates, like how some prices change at the store. This makes it easier to change the rules but might also make things a bit confusing if not updated often enough.