Brown halts all non-essential travel by state employees

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Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order Tuesday forbidding all state employee travel that is not “mission critical” to the operation of California government.

“Our fiscal challenges demand that we take a much closer look at how taxpayer dollars are being spent within state government,” Brown said in a written statement accompanying the order. “Now is not the time to attend conferences, travel to meetings or take out-of-state field trips.”

Travel within California deemed “mission critical” must now be approved by agency and department heads, the order states. Out-of-state trips must receive direct approval from the governor’s office.

The executive order is the latest in a series of moves Brown has made to cut costs and build public support for his budget package. He has also curbed car and cellphone privileges for government workers.

Brown seeks to close part of the state’s deficit with taxes, but his plan has met resistance among Republicans in the Legislature.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento