The State Department asks employees to return to work during the shutdown period

The state department on Thursday ordered US employees and diplomats to return to work, saying it would release additional funds to pay most employees' salaries for two weeks.

"As a national security agency, it is imperative that the State Department carry out its mission.We are best placed to do this with embassies, consulates and national offices. with all the staff, "said Assistant Deputy Secretary of Management Bill Todd in a statement.

The State Department was one of many federal agencies affected by the closure on December 22nd. About 23% of Department of State employees recruited directly from abroad and 40% of those operating in the country have been laid off, which means that they are not getting paid and no are not required to come to work.

Todd stated that employees would be paid for work done during the two-week pay period beginning Sunday, January 20, including domestic workers and persons occupying US diplomatic positions at the same time. foreign. He added that employees would be paid in time for their work on February 14 and that the department would "then review the balances and legal authorities available to try to cover future pay periods".

The state department "expects to be able to resume most of the staff operations and fund most of the salaries," Todd said, without giving details about where the funds came from.

Employees will not receive a pay check during the first few weeks of closing until a new funding bill is approved.

A State Department spokesman told The Hill that the department's management, budget and legal teams had located the funds "through a review of the department's available balances." Additional details on the origin of the funds have not been disclosed.

Overseas consular offices and consulates will still have to comply with the "tight budget constraints" on travel and contracts as closure continues, Todd said Thursday.

The government's closure entered its 27th day on Thursday with no sign of an agreement between President Trump update of Donald John Trump's missile defense doctrine, will explore technologies Space base, lasers to counter threats Giuliani: no collusion "between the Trump campaign and Russia Former members of Congress, members of the RNC appointed to positions in the administration Trump MORE and Democrats of the Congress. Trump has asked for more than $ 5 billion to build a wall on the US border with Mexico.

Last update: 14:05