CIA Recalls Staff, Citing Security Concerns

Citing national security concerns, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is recalling some employees that were earlier told not to come to work because of the partial American government shutdown.

In a written statement, CIA Director John Brennan said those being recalled were necessary to fulfill the CIA's core missions of foreign intelligence collection, analysis, covert action, and counterintelligence.

Brennan said keeping CIA staffing at the dramatically reduced levels of the past week, since the shutdown went into effect, would pose a threat to the safety of human life and the protection of property.

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The statement said a significant portion of the agency’s employees had been off the job, but didn't say how many.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP