Via Scott A. Hodes, ASAP President – “Late last week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued new guidance to all federal agencies that acknowledges the need for federal employees to attend mission-related conferences and provides some best practices for approving travel and conference expenses. This new guidance adopts many of the best practices suggested in a meetings protocol that ASAE provided to OMB at their request.  While government attendance at conferences is likely to be hampered by sequestration budget cuts, OMB has stated in clear fashion that federal agencies are encouraged to attend conferences that support their agency’s mission. The OMB guidance is here.”