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Civilian Workers Returning to Dover Air Force Base and National Guard

Dover Air Force Base website

Most of the 869 federal civilians who were furloughed by the military in Delaware last week are coming back to work.

All of the 500 furloughed workers at Dover Air Force base are back on duty.

And, the Delaware National Guard says there’s another 340 employees around the state who were being notified that they should return to work.

The Wilmington News Journalreports that all facilities or activities that were closed last week at Dover will reopen today with the exception of the commissary which normally opens on Tuesdays.

The recalled workers will not be immediately paid for the four days lost last week but should receive back pay once the government reopens.

Their return follows a reinterpretation of the Pay Our Military Act by Pentagon lawyers that the military was allowed to eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service personnel.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.