NASA OIG Report on NASA Travel
NASA OIG: Audit of NASA’s Premium Air Travel
“Generally, the 2 years of NASA premium-class travel we reviewed was properly authorized and complied with Federal and Agency travel policy. However, we identified four instances of premium travel that did not fall within any FTR or Agency exceptions, errors and omissions in some travel authorizations, and inaccuracies in NASA’s reporting of its premium travel to GSA. In addition, we found the Agency’s travel policy did not include several elements required by GSA.”
Four instances across the entire agency? That is remarkable (as in good).
Possibly remarkable (as in too good to be true.) The report said, “From our sample of 75 travel legs over a 2-year period” So it’s four out of 75, or 5.33%, which still isn’t bad.
But I do have a few doubts about the result. It checked whether or not the expenses had been justified by appropriately reporting them and getting approval. That is, if the official process was followed. But that can be done by checking the appropriate box on a form. Most of the exceptions allowing people to fly first class involve some judgement (i.e. Is a particular astronaut’s workload really so heavy that the astronaut can’t be allowed to be exhausted from a 14 hour economy-class flight?) The report seems to have checked the official process, and whether or not it was followed. It does not appear to shed light on the nature of those judgements (whether well-considered or pro-forma,)