The agency will be slicing its travel budget by more than one fourth in fiscal year 2013, in part due to this Inspector General’s report in May of last year chastising the agency for lack of control over its travel authorizations and spending.

The IG’s report called for EPA to get a handle on its travel. In response, EPA cut off “self –authorization” for travel and instituted procedures for travel justification that required multi-level authorization. The agency also, in a response to the IG’s office, said it was looking to hire a new travel service provider.