DoD Corrects Per Diem Rates Affecting North Slope Travel Reimbursements

Federal travel allowances that shape reimbursements for government employees and contractors visiting North Slope communities were corrected in early January, a move with direct implications for borough offices, tribal governments, employers, and service providers who host federal travelers. The Department of Defense reprinted the full per diem table to correct numerical errors in an earlier notice and confirmed the revised rates are effective January 1, 2026.

The corrected table enumerates many Alaska localities by name and provides separate lodging, meal-and-incidentals (M&IE), and total per diem values by season. North Slope entries include Point Barrow LRRS (Barrow/Utqiagvik), Point Hope, Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, and Oliktok LRRS. Those figures determine the maximum daily reimbursement that federal employees and contractors may claim while traveling on official business to these remote communities.

For local governments and businesses, the correction affects expense processing, contract billing, and budgeting. Travel authorizations issued after the effective date must reflect the updated rates to avoid underpayment or the need for retroactive adjustments. Employers and tribal and borough offices that process vouchers or host DoD personnel should update internal reimbursement tables, payroll systems, and contract line items to align with the corrected amounts. Lodging providers and event hosts that invoice federal travelers or their agencies should confirm which per diem schedule applies when issuing bills.

Administrative consequences can be immediate. If agencies or contractors used the originally published—but erroneous—rates for travel already completed, payroll and accounting departments may need to reconcile differences. For upcoming travel, the corrected table will shape cost estimates and approvals for travel to the North Slope during seasonal rate periods.

The correction cites numerical mistakes in the originally published table and presents the amended values in full. Local officials and service providers should consult the corrected table and update travel authorization procedures, voucher review practices, and contract terms accordingly. Clear, timely coordination between federal travel managers and North Slope administrative offices will reduce bookkeeping burdens and ensure reimbursements match the corrected allowances that now govern travel effective January 1, 2026.