Furloughs to End for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Workers

Unpaid furloughs for more than 1,000 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers are set to end Monday.

The civilian workers were furloughed last week in response to the government shutdown.

Shipyard officials on Sunday night announced the affected workers should report to work Monday.

The development came after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Saturday ordered about 400,000 Department of Defense civilian workers—such as those at the shipyard—back to work. Hagel said there's a legal basis that allows officials to "eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members."

Hagel said Congress should retroactively compensate the furloughed workers. U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH, last week co-sponsored legislation that would do so.

"Ultimately, the surest way to end these damaging and irresponsible furloughs, and to enable us to fulfill our mission as a Department, is for Congress to pass a budget and restore funds for the entire federal government," Hagel said in a statement.