Pentagon ordering most of its furloughed civilian employees back to work despite shutdown

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is ordering most of its approximately 400,000 furloughed civilian employees back to work.

The decision by Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is based on a Pentagon legal interpretation of a law called the Pay Our Military Act.

That measure was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama shortly before the partial government shutdown began Tuesday.

The Pentagon did not immediately say on Saturday exactly how many workers will return to work. The Defence Department said “most” were being brought back.

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