Germany has announced that it will temporarily cover the salaries of around 11,000 local employees working at U.S. military bases across the country, whose pay was put at risk by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
A spokesperson for the German Finance Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, October 22, that Berlin will authorize an “unscheduled expenditure” to ensure October salaries are paid on time.
“The federal government will initiate an unscheduled expenditure to make sure October salaries are paid without delay,” the spokesperson stated.
The decision follows uncertainty over whether U.S. funds would be released during the shutdown. Those affected include German nationals and other local staff employed at U.S. military facilities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Hesse.
Trade union Verdi had earlier warned that the employees could face delayed payments if Washington failed to act, noting that in previous shutdowns, local staff continued to receive their pay. The union described any possible non-payment as a breach of German labor law and urged authorities to step in to prevent financial hardship.
“The current U.S. administration seems prepared to halt paychecks,” Verdi said, calling the move “unprecedented” and “legally questionable.”
Germany’s Finance Ministry said it has reached an agreement with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate—home to major U.S. bases such as Ramstein Air Base—to cover the wages while awaiting reimbursement from the United States.
The spokesperson emphasized that Berlin expects to be repaid once the U.S. government resumes regular financial operations, describing the move as “a gesture of solidarity with the U.S. armed forces stationed in Germany and their civilian employees.”
This temporary measure ensures that thousands of local workers—including maintenance staff, administrative employees, and technical personnel—will continue receiving their wages without interruption despite the political impasse in Washington.
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