July 31, 2025
TO: Heads of Federal Agencies
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Continental United States (CONUS) Per Diem Reimbursement Rates
What is the purpose of this bulletin?
For FY 2026, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is maintaining the FY 2025 per diem reimbursement rates to provide for reimbursement of Federal employees’ subsistence expenses while on official travel within CONUS.
No new non-standard area (NSA) locations are added for FY 2026. The maximum lodging allowance rates in existing per diem localities remain at FY 2025 levels, and the standard lodging rate also remains unchanged at $110. The meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) reimbursement rate tiers for FY 2026 remain at $68-$92, and the standard M&IE rate remains at $68.
What is the background of this bulletin?
This bulletin, once published on the GSA website, effectuates the per diem reimbursement rates prescribed by GSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP) for CONUS locations. Other than the changes posted on the GSA website, notices published periodically in the Federal Register now constitute the only notification of revisions to CONUS per diem reimbursement rates to agencies. Per diem reimbursement rates are published at gsa.gov/perdiem.
Can agencies authorize actual expense reimbursement if their travelers cannot find rooms at the per diem reimbursement rates?
If per diem reimbursement rates are insufficient to meet expenses, the FTR permits actual expense reimbursement up to 300% of the applicable maximum per diem rate, pursuant to FTR §§ 301-11.300 through 301-11.306.
What is the effective date of this bulletin?
This bulletin is effective upon the date of publication, and applies to travel performed on or after October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
Whom should I contact for further information?
For clarification of content, contact Mr. Alexander Kurien, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy, at 202-495-9628 or travelpolicy@gsa.gov. Please cite GSA Per Diem Bulletin FTR 26-01.
By delegation of the Administrator of General Services,
Larry Allen
Associate Administrator
Office of Government-wide Policy
U.S. General Services Administration