The Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) Program provides travelers with a safe, effective, convenient, and commercially available method to pay for official travel expenses. Travelers do not need to use personal funds for mission-related travel expenses, can manage their GTCC account online, and reimbursem*nt is streamlined through DoD’s travel system. The GTCC also offers insurance coverage for rental cars, lost luggage, and personal injury, and provides cardholders with better payment terms.
Delinquent payments have a negative impact on the Department’s ability to accomplish its travel mission. Travel card accounts that are delinquent are suspended from use, necessitating travelers’ use of personal funds. This reduces the funds earned by the DoD Components as rebates from Citibank, directly impacting projected funding sources. See guidance forCardholdersandAgency Program Coordinators/Supervisors/Approving Officialsfor more information on reducing delinquent payments.
Governance & Policy
DoD policy requires travelers to use their Government Travel Charge Card to pay for all meals during official travel. Travel cards with air, lodging, and/or rental car transactions without meal spend may be flagged for policy noncompliance.
Authorized by the DoDI 5154.31, Volume 4 [PDF, 10 pages], the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) manages the card program, providing guidance, policy, and training, and serves as a liaison to GSA, the travel card vendor, and DoD Component Program Managers on travel card related issues. DTMO is also responsible for developing, coordinating, and maintaining the Government Travel Charge Card Regulations [PDF, 46 pages]. Refer to the GTCC Regulations for GTCC policy and purpose, general travel card information, and special travel considerations.
Use of the travel card is mandated by the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 [PDF, 9 pages].
GTCC Regulations state that the card will be used by all DoD personnel (military or civilian) to pay for all costs related to official government travel, including meals. Personal use of the travel card or use of the travel card to pay for someone else's travel expenses is prohibited and may result in disciplinary actions. Refer to the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) [PDF] for information on authorized travel expenses. The Military Services may further restrict/define this policy.
