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Carol Morello
National Reporter on Foreign Policy and Department of State
Karen DeYoung
Deputy Editor and Correspondent for National Security
Secretary of State John Sullivan at a luncheon for more than 180 ambassadors attending an annual conference. He received what one manager described as two "catchy" applause.
Officials said that a review of the state department's payroll accounts had provided enough money to cover a 15-day pay period. Beyond this, officials cautioned that they will have to see if they can identify funds from other accounts that could be used if the closure were to extend. This would however require congressional agreement.
Although the number of fired employees has changed from week to week, currently, 40% of the 14,500 people working in the United States are, just as 23% of the 9,500 people working in the United States are. foreign. More than 50,000 people are employed locally in embassies and consulates abroad, but they are protected from holidays because local labor laws prohibit paying people for work done. Leave was particularly steep at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), hitting more than half of its 3,300 employees, including seven in ten working in the interior of the country.
All employees of the State Department are recalled to their usual duties with pay. starting Sunday, marking the start of the next pay period. In fact, this means that most of them will not return to work until Tuesday because Monday is a holiday. They will receive a regular pay check on February 14, regular pay day.
But with regard to the pay that they have missed until now at the closing, entering the 27th day Thursday, they must, like other federal officials, wait for the passage.
Officials said the recall was made because a "full team" was needed to solve the problems around the world and for the sake of the financial crisis and financial uncertainty. affecting state department employees during the longest stint in the history of the United States.
"As a national security agency, it is imperative that the State Department carry out its mission," said Assistant Deputy Secretary of Management, Bill Todd, in a statement. It is not known why the tasks performed by the State Department, with less than half of its employees currently on leave, are more important than the security functions of the Department of Homeland Security, which
Evaluation by Todd's "imperative" was also contrary to an initial ministry memorandum dated December 6, which gave advance notice of a possible closure. The memo specified that the functions that could be pursued without appropriations were notably necessary for the essential activities "concerning the safety of persons or the protection of property" and the foreign policy activities specifically related to national security. Ministry offices were instructed to minimize the number of positions excepted and letters of stay designated as non-essential; those who were not required to report for work without being paid.
Even with the dismissed employees recalled, the State Department has always resume work at a reduced level. Employees are encouraged to adhere to the "tight budget constraints" imposed on new funding for contracts, travel and other needs.
As most government agencies do, cash expenditures for the state department are often not made immediately. Legislators reserve funds for specific purposes, but they can be distributed over time, leaving the appropriate money waiting to be spent. But the government generally does not have the power to spend this money for other purposes, unless the appropriations and authorization fees of both houses of Congress are notified and approve the transfer of funds. funds from one column to another.
Congressional advisers stated that they had not yet received any notifications. and the legislators asked the state questions, asking for the amount of the proposed cash transfers and the reason the money was initially approved.
In the long run, the impression that the State Department has money, and the flexibility of use could create additional problems for a department whose budget has been deemed excessive by some Republicans, including including President Trump.
State Secretary Mike Pompeo said that "morale is good" at the state department. when stopping despite the large number of holidays. However, many employees claim that their state of mind has been undermined by the obligation to work without pay until the official end of the closure. The corridors of the Truman Building at Foggy Bottom are extremely quiet because many workers carry on their activities remotely, in part so that they do not have to pay for parking at a time when they do not receive a paycheck.
The State The department went through two difficult years, set apart from major foreign policy decisions, and faced with the changing policy announcements from the White House.
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), Deputy Chair of the Senate Credit Committee, questioned why the State Department and a handful of other agencies were recalling employees while others did not. did not do it.
families are suffering terribly. Every day that passes, their situation is more precarious. It's not just the State Department, and it's not ok to choose agencies that way. "
[ Correction: An earlier version of this story gave a misleading picture of the number of State Department employees working overseas. .]
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