Washington ( CNN ) -- The Pentagon may announce as soon as this weekend a plan to bring up to 400,000 furloughed civilian employees back to work , according to two Defense Department officials . CNN has learned the plan is in the final stages of being written and approved . If all are returned to work , it would represent about half the number of government civilian and contract employees at risk of furloughs during the government shutdown that began on Tuesday . The partisan congressional stalemate over spending for the current fiscal year shows no sign of ending anytime soon . Details of the Pentagon plan were being worked out on exactly which employees would be brought back and how they would be notified . The officials declined to be identified because the plan has not yet been announced . But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made his view clear while traveling in Japan . `` We were forced by law to furlough many , many of our civilian workers . But we 're trying to find a solid legal interpretation here in the law that can bring back more people in support of our military , '' he said . It 's expected the Defense Department will issue a broad statement from Hagel saying he is authorizing employees back to work followed by detailed memos about the recall would work . Obama administration lawyers have been working to interpret how much leeway they were given by Congress over personnel in a measure approved just before the shutdown took effect that ensured troops would continue to be paid during a government closure . Language in the law said civilian personnel and contractors will be paid if the secretary of defense `` determines '' they are providing `` support '' for the troops and several members of Congress have said that gives Hagel broad authority . But the two officials said lawyers were still working on what that means because the law does not specifically say all employees can come back . `` The question is who works here at the department who supports troops ? '' one official said . There will have to be some legal finding as to what jobs and which personnel specifically support troops , both officials said . But Defense Department officials are well aware that Hagel is pressuring to bring everyone back to work next week . `` There 's no job in our Department of Defense that does n't support the military . So , I think theoretically -- I 'm not a lawyer , but I do have some appreciation for common sense , and common sense tells you that if you 're working for the Department of Defense , you 're supporting the defense and the security of America , and you 're supporting those who are on the front lines , '' Hagel said .
Pentagon may bring back up to 400,000 furloughed civilian employees . CNN has learned a plan to do so is in the final stages of being approved . The government shutdown began on Tuesday due to a political impasse over funding . NEW : Lawyers weigh how broadly to interpret law ensuring troops will be paid during shutdown .