As Workers Return, APG Says Situation is 'Extremely Fluid'

After a weeklong furlough that began when the federal government shut down Oct. 1, many employees at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) returned to work Monday.

"We are pleased to see some of our workforce return to work and look forward to a complete resolution and the return of our remaining personnel," Colonel Gregory McClinton, Garrison Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, said in a prepared statement Oct. 7.

"This partial government shutdown placed additional hardships on our workforce given the recent fiscal constraints caused by administrative furloughs earlier this year," McClinton said.

Approximately two-thirds of the workers at APG, which employs more than 20,000, were furloughed last week.

APG reported Monday that several of its organizations "have mission funding that allowed them to continue to work during the furlough," and "specific missions and positions related to life, health and safety were also 'excepted,'" accounting for the one-third of employees who continued to work during the shutdown.

The return of employees Monday came after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said over the weekend that officials could legally eliminate furloughs for employees "whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members." On Saturday, Hagel ordered approximately 400,000 Department of Defense employees back to work.

While "most garrison employees have returned to work...the situation is extremely fluid," according to APG.

As of Oct. 7, APG reported the following about its operations:

RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS: Civilian Personnel Advisory Center; library; Department of Human Resources; Department of Public Works; Equal Opportunity Employment Office; Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic; Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office
WILL RESUME NORMAL HOURS OCT. 8: Staff Judge Advocate, commissary
SERVICE DELAYS: Department of Logistics
CLOSED: TMP

GATE SCHEDULES

OPEN 24 hours: 715 Gate, Route 24 gate
CLOSED: Aberdeen Gate, Magnolia Gate
OPEN Monday to Friday (6 a.m.–6 p.m.), closed Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays: Route 22 Gate
OPEN 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily: Aberdeen Visitor Center, Wise Road Gate
OPEN 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, closed Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays: Edgewood Visitor Center
OPEN 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, closed Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays: Aberdeen Badge Office, Edgewood Badge Office

Related Articles:

• Furloughs to End for APG Garrison Employees
• More Than 10,000 APG Employees Furloughed in Government Shutdown
• Aberdeen Reacts to Shutdown: ‘How Do They Expect People to Put Food on the Table?'