Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday that `` most [ Department of Defense ] civilians placed on emergency furlough during the government shutdown will be asked to return to work beginning next week . '' Under Secretary of Defense Robert F. Hale said close to 90 % of the 350,000 members of the civilian workforce will be called back . `` My guess is that we will bring most of them back and no more than a few tens of thousands will remain on furlough . And it may be substantially less than that , '' said Hale . The ongoing government shutdown left more than 800,000 workers furloughed since Tuesday . Cruz promised Republican victory in shutdown fight . Hagel said Pentagon and Department of Justice ( DOJ ) attorneys concluded that the law allows the DOD to eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale , well-being , capabilities and readiness of service members . `` We immediately began working with the Department of Justice on how to implement it , '' said Hale , `` and the Department expressed the opinion that the law does not permit a blanket recall of all DOD civilians . The Department of Justice did say that we could undertake a careful review of civilians who support members of the armed forces and determine who to recall . Needless to say , this is a difficult process and a very time consuming one . '' Hale said officials established a series of categories for civilians who will return to work and those who will not . The first group to return will be `` accepted civilians , the ones that are working right now connected to military operations and the safety of life and property . '' Obama blames Boehner for ongoing shutdown . `` We will recall a category of civilians who provide ongoing support to military members on an ongoing basis like health care , family programs , training and maintenance and commissaries . We will also recall a second category of civilians whose work , if interrupted by a lapse for a substantial period , could cause future problems for military members . Falling in this category is acquisitions , program oversight , contract logistics , financial management , supply chain management , '' said Hale . The group that will not be recalled from furlough includes staff who are `` less directly related to military members , '' said Hale . Those that will not be recalled include some of the Information staff , some of the legislative and public affairs staff , the deputy chief management officer staff , auditors and staff working in non-DOD activities . House passes measure to bring military chaplains back to work . `` Because of the letter of the law and the advice from the DOJ we had to identify those with the less direct effect on military members , '' said Hale . Just hours before the announcement , the House passed a bill providing back pay to federal workers who were furloughed . It 's unclear when the Senate might vote on the bill . On Friday , the White House said the president would sign such a measure . Speaker John Boehner and GOP House leadership held the vote as part of a strategy to pass piecemeal spending legislation that addresses the issues brought up by the shutdown . Although Democrats oppose the incremental approach , saying it amounts to conservatives choosing to fund programs and services they like , the bill passed with strong bipartisan support . Retroactive pay is provided under the bill , but federal workers ca n't expect paychecks until after the government shutdown ends and Congress reaches a resolution on the budget . Hagel 's announcement guarantees that many of the Defense Department workers no longer have to wait on Congress in order to go back to work . Shutdown sidelines U.S . Merchant Marine Academy cadets .
Hagel : `` I expect us to be able to significantly reduce -- but not eliminate -- civilian furloughs '' Obama and Justice Department lawyers consulted on decision , Hours says . Hagel earlier , Justice Department passed bill to restore back pay to furloughed workers . Justice Department has signaled he would sign such a back-pay measure .