---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5710"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5710"
heading: "Authority for travel expenses test programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5710"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 57 — Travel, Transportation, and Subsistence"
  - "Subchapter I — Travel and Subsistence Expenses; Mileage Allowances"
---

# §5710. Authority for travel expenses test programs

- (a)
  - (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, under a test program which the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) of General [Services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) determines to be in the interest of the [Government](/usc/5/5701.md?p=5) and approves, an [agency](/usc/5/5701.md?p=1) may [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) through the proper disbursing official for a period not to exceed 24 months any necessary travel expenses in lieu of any payment otherwise authorized or required under this subchapter. An [agency](/usc/5/5701.md?p=1) shall include in any request to the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) for approval of such a test program an analysis of the expected costs and benefits and a set of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
  - (2) Any test program conducted under this section shall be designed to enhance cost savings or other efficiencies that accrue to the [Government](/usc/5/5701.md?p=5).
  - (3) Nothing in this section is intended to limit the [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) of any [agency](/usc/5/5701.md?p=1) to conduct test programs.
- (b) The [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) shall transmit a copy of any test program approved by the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) under this section to the appropriate committees of the Congress at least 30 days before the effective date of the program.
- (c) An [agency](/usc/5/5701.md?p=1) authorized to conduct a test program under [subsection (a)](#a) shall provide to the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) and the appropriate committees of the Congress a report on the results of the program no later than 3 months after completion of the program.
- (d) No more than 10 test programs under this section may be conducted simultaneously.
- (e) The [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) to conduct test programs under this section shall expire 7 years after the date of the enactment of the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–264, § 5(a), Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2354.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (e), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105–264, which was approved Oct. 19, 1998.