WASHINGTON — The State Department plans to fly all of its ambassadors and other top diplomatic envoys from around the world into Washington next week for a two-day conference, even if the ongoing partial government shutdown continues. Most State Department employees have been furloughed or are working without pay since the shutdown began on Dec. 22. But the department will pay for travel expenses and other costs related to the forum, called the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference. The conference was first held in 2011, when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, and has been held twice since. Asked for comment on Friday, the State Department issued a statement that said officials had decided to continue with the conference because “it is essential to the conduct of foreign affairs essential to national security.”

Source: New York Times January 11, 2019 23:03 UTC