Washington:
As the US government battles to end shutdown, thousands of furloughed workers have been trickling back to work as federal agencies deal with safety issues and other emergencies.
The Federal Aviation Administration has recalled hundreds of safety inspectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought back scientists to track an outbreak of salmonella in raw chicken. And members of Congress have called back staff to handle the backlog of legislative paperwork.
The Office of Management and Budget says each agency has authority to recall workers for situations affecting the safety of life and property or other vital interests. More than 400,000 federal workers remain at home.
Those lucky enough to be recalled are still working without pay, but all furloughed workers are expected to see paychecks sometime after the shutdown ends.