Washington. The Government of the United States of America has decided last week to cut and freeze conference spending by government agencies for five years. The decision of the Congress has now passed by the House and Senate. Until 2016, the expenses for conferences of all government departments will be shut down by 80 percent of the current status.

The U.S. Government responds to a scandal that became known in April: The government agency General Services Administration (GSA) spent a total cost of U.S. $ 822 000 on, among other things, mind readers, after-hour parties in the hotel and filet mignon during their Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas in October 2010 – a scandal which, understandably, suggested high waves in the media.

Besides the reduction in the budget to 80 percent there will be a limit from now on. Expenditure for individual conferences may not exceed the amount of $ 500,000 in the future.

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Congress-OKs-freeze-on-travel-spending/