The Pentagon is ordering most of its 400,000 furloughed civilian employees back to work based on its legal interpretation of the Pay Our Military Act, according to the Associated Press.

The Pay Our Military Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama shortly before the government shutdown Tuesday. The law ensures members of the military who work through the shutdown are paid on time.

The Department of Defense did not immediately say exactly how many of its employees were returning to work, but said "most" of them would.