Germany Steps Up: Ensuring Pay for Local US Military Staff Amid Shutdown

In a significant move highlighting enduring transatlantic solidarity, the German government has announced it will step in to guarantee the salaries of approximately 11,000 to 12,000 local German employees at U.S. military bases whose paychecks have been jeopardized by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown in Washington.

The German Finance Ministry confirmed it will initiate an "unscheduled expenditure" to ensure October salaries are paid on time to the local civilian staff.

Berlin's decision is described as a "sign of solidarity with the U.S. armed forces stationed in Germany and their civilian employees," but it also follows pressure from the Verdi trade union, which argued that halting pay would violate German labor law.

The German government anticipates being reimbursed for the payroll costs once the U.S. government shutdown is resolved and American payments can be processed.

The local employees, primarily German citizens, work in critical non-military areas such as logistics, catering, fire protection, and security at bases including the massive Ramstein Air Base.

The move comes as the U.S. government shutdown continues, raising fears that, unlike in some past shutdowns, local staff might see their pay interrupted. The Verdi union was particularly vocal, stating that salary interruptions due to budget disputes are "not permissible under German law" and urging an immediate solution.

By guaranteeing the timely payment of wages, the federal government in Berlin, alongside the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (home to many of the workers), is proactively mitigating the economic impact of the U.S. budget impasse on its own citizens.

A ministry spokeswoman affirmed the plan, noting, "The federal government will initiate an unscheduled expenditure to ensure that October salaries are paid on time," adding, "A refund will then be made after payment from the U.S. side." This extraordinary measure underscores Germany's commitment to its workforce and its stable relationship with the U.S. military presence within its borders.