In a surprise announcement today (Oct. 5), Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said he will recall to work next week almost all of the 400,000 Defense Department civilian employees who had been sent home when the government shut down, according to the New York Times.
Hagel made the move after Pentagon and Justice Department lawyers said they interpreted a stop-gap budget law to include larger numbers of workers. When the government shut down, about half the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers were told to stay home. Military personnel are automatically exempted.
In a surprise announcement today (Oct. 5), Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said he will recall to work next week almost all of the 400,000 Defense Department civilian employees who had been sent home when the government shut down, according to the New York Times.
Hagel made the move after Pentagon and Justice Department lawyers said they interpreted a stop-gap budget law to include larger numbers of workers. When the government shut down, about half the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers were told to stay home. Military personnel are automatically exempted.