Jan 28, 2019Government shutdown over, USDA employees return to work
President Donald Trump reopened the federal government Jan. 25, agreeing to a temporary funding measure that would allow federal employees to return to work.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement in response to Trump’s announcement of reopening the federal government:
“President Trump’s announcement of the reopening of the federal government is welcome news, as it will bring thousands of our employees back to work and return us to our mission of providing our customers with the services they rely upon. I extend my sincere thanks to the thousands of USDA workers who stayed on the job during the shutdown to offer as many of our normal activities as we could. The president has already signed legislation that guarantees back pay for all employees, and we will move forward on that as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we will prepare for a smooth reestablishment of USDA functions.
“There will now be sufficient time for Congress to come to an agreement with the President on his pledge to protect our national security by securing our southern border with a reliable, effective barrier.”
NPR: Trump doesn’t rule out shutting down government in three weeks, but it’s unlikely
