The State Department told employees they're going back to work with pay despite the partial government shutdown, as the Trump administration continues to craft exemptions aimed at minimizing the effects of the funding impasse with Congress.
"The department expects to be able to resume most personnel operations and fund most salaries," the department said Thursday in the letter to its worldwide staff. For most workers, that means going back to work on Jan. 22.
The department didn't say where it was finding money to pay its employees. It cautioned that "bureaus and posts are expected to adhere to strict budget constraints with regard to new spending for contracts, travel, and other needs."