Pentagon Still Burning, But Workers at Desks
Back at the Pentagon, staffers had returned to their desks though large sections of building were cordoned off with crime scene tape. The building was evacuated briefly again today but quickly reoccupied after concern about one of the fires, still burning even after a full day of efforts to douse the flames, was filling halls of the five-sided building with smoke.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said 25 percent of the approximately 260 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world have been closed in response to the attacks. But at State Department headquarters and at other federal buildings that had been evacuated Tuesday, workers returned to their offices.
"The federal government and all our agencies are conducting business, but it is not business as usual," Bush said. "We are operating on heightened security alert."
Federal workers were on edge today. The Department of Agriculture was evacuated briefly due to security concerns. And employees at the Interior Department were herded into a basement cafeteria following a false report that an unauthorized plane had penetrated U.S. airspace.
The Darkest Day
The White House had been evacuated and locked down Tuesday. But today, Bush was meeting there with congressional leaders and public tours had resumed.
On the other side of the city, Congress met under intense security, sending another signal to the world that terrorism has not crippled the United States. After closed-door briefings with top intelligence officials, lawmakers expressed concern that the bloodshed may not be over.
"This may not be over," Florida Sen. Bob Graham, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned after the secret briefings. "We're in a yellow light situation."
Earlier, the Senate and House chaplains opened today's congressional session with emotional prayers for the injured, the killed and the nation. Lawmakers filed one by one to the podiums to express anger, sadness and determination to avenge the deaths of so many Americans.
"We must put ourselves in a war footing," Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi urged. "We must make up our minds we're going to fight this scourge of the world."
Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., called Tuesday "the darkest day in American history."
"Pearl Harbor pales in comparison," Skelton said.
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution condemning the bombing, committing "to support increased resources in the war to eradicate terrorism" and backing the president's efforts "in close consultation with the Congress" to punish the perpetrators.
John McWethy, Dee Carden and Linda Douglass contributed to this report.