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Hagel Recalls Most Defense Department Workers
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made a surprise announcement on Saturday that he would recall next week almost all of the 400,000 civilian employees of the Defense Department who had been sent home when the government shut down. Mr. Hagel said the decision that most D.O.D. civilians would now be exempted from furloughs came after Pentagon and Justice Department lawyers interpreted a budget law passed just before the shutdown to include a larger number of workers. When the government shut down, about half of the Defense Departments civilian work force of 800,000 was ordered to stay home; military personnel are automatically exempted from the shutdown. In a letter released Saturday, Mr. Hagel said that government lawyers now said that under the Pay Our Military Act, the Defense Department can eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members. The act, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama as the government began to shut down, was intended to ensure that the military continued to be paid. Posted by: Au Auric 2013-10-05 |
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