MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) -- Thousands of civilian workers employed at military facilities in Tennessee are back at work, but they may not have the tools needed to work effectively.
This past weekend, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered more than 400,000 civilian employees furloughed October 1 back to work. Hagel says the Pay Our Military Act, passed by Congress shortly before the partial government shutdown began, gave him that authority.
The Tullahoma News says all civilian staff at Arnold Air Force Base are back on the job. The Courier-Journal says most of Ft. Campbell’s civilian workers have returned as well.
All but a handful of the more than 1400 civilian workers employed by the Tennessee National Guard also returned to work this week. Spokesman Randy Harris says the Guard is happy to have them back.
“It was a short period of time so there were no long term effects, but you could certainly feel the impact of not being able to complete some missions.”
Harris says the continuing shutdown is still making life difficult to maintain readiness. He says the lack of a budget means no training, no travel and very little purchasing authority.