Berlin has stepped in to pay the salaries of U.S. military staff in Germany as the government shutdown in Washington persists, according to the German Finance Ministry.
The government in Germany is taking action to “initiate unplanned expenditures to ensure that salaries for October are processed on time” for civilian personnel at U.S. military bases, as mentioned by a ministry spokesperson to AFP.
This move follows multiple blocks from Senate Democrats against Republican efforts to reopen the government, totaling 11 times this month alone.
Currently, about 11,000 civilian employees are based in Germany, providing support to around 35,000 U.S. troops.
The financial assistance is intended for local U.S. military staff working at American bases in Germany, including locations like Ramstein Air Base and Stuttgart, the site of the War Department’s European Command.
While the Pentagon hasn’t confirmed whether this arrangement has been accepted, a Defense Department official commented: “We value the important contributions of local national personnel around the world.”
Officials noted that salary structures for local employees differ by country based on agreements between the U.S. and each host nation.
If this deal is finalized, Germany anticipates reimbursement from the U.S. once the shutdown is resolved.
Military and political analysts have criticized lawmakers for perpetuating the second-longest government shutdown in history, leaving military and federal workers without pay.
“Shame on you,” remarked Alex Prisas from the Atlantic Council in a brief post on the issue on X Wednesday.
Should the shutdown continue into November, even Berlin’s temporary measures might not suffice, potentially leaving numerous American families overseas in a difficult situation due to ongoing budget disputes in Congress.
No immediate comments have been made by White House officials regarding Berlin’s offer.
