DoD Fixes Overseas Per Diem Rates for Alaska Trips
Published Date: 1/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Defense fixed some mistakes in their overseas travel pay rates for places like Alaska, starting January 1, 2026. If you’re a government worker traveling to these non-foreign areas, your daily lodging and meal allowances might be a bit different now. This update makes sure everyone gets the right amount of money for their trips!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Updated per diem rates for non-foreign areas
If you are a government worker traveling to non-foreign areas outside the continental U.S., the Department of Defense reprinted corrected daily lodging and meal allowances that take effect January 1, 2026. For example, Alaska [OTHER] is shown with Lodging $239 and M&IE $143 (Total $382) effective 01/01/2026; many other localities (Anchorage, Barrow, Hawaii locations, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.) have specific lodging, M&IE, and total per diem amounts listed in the reprinted table.
Meal allowance limited when lodging includes meals
The table includes a rule that when meals are included in the lodging rate, a traveler is allowed a meal rate only on the first and last day of travel. This limits the daily meal reimbursement for trips where lodging already covers meals.
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