FAA inspectors, engineers called back to work amid shutdown

More than 3,000 Federal Aviation Administration engineers and inspectors who were furloughed during the partial government shutdown that started Dec. 22 will be back on the job this week. They will not be paid for their work until the shutdown has been resolved.

The FAA made the announcement after unions representing inspectors and air traffic controllers said earlier this month that their not being on the job was putting the public in danger, according to The New York Times.

Workers held a rally last week at the Capitol demanding an end to the partial government shutdown, The Washington Post reported.

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The federal government has already adjusted the status of workers in both the Internal Revenue Service and the Food and Drug Administration, putting them back to work, but not paid on time, during the shutdown, the Times reported.

The latest FAA plan will put 3,113 aviation safety positions employees qualified as essential. The original furlough had only 216 aviation safety positions filled, according to the Times.

Last week the House passed a bill that will pay workers retroactively after the shutdown ends. The measure passed 411-7, CNBC reported. The Senate approved it unanimously before it went to the president's desk for his signature. He is expected to sign it.

Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

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