Berlin offers to pay US military employees in Germany until shutdown ends
The German and the US flags fly at the US Airbase at Ramstein in southwestern Germany. AFP via Getty Images
Berlin has stepped forward to cover the paychecks of U.S. military employees stationed in Germany as Washington’s government shutdown continues to stretch on, according to the German Ministry of Finance.
A ministry spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse that Germany would “initiate an unscheduled expenditure to ensure that October salaries are paid on time” for local civilian workers on American bases throughout the country.
The move comes as Senate Democrats have blocked 11 separate Republican efforts this month to reopen the government. “It’s sad that German officials care more about American troops than Democrats in Congress, who shut down the government to push free healthcare for illegal immigrants, complained about paying military servicemembers, and view struggling families as ‘leverage,’” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told The Post.
“President Trump has prioritized funding military pay,” Kelly continued, “but Chuck Schumer and Democrats should reopen the government today so that no one has to consider any alternative solutions to support our military servicemembers.”
Roughly 11,000 civilian Pentagon staff currently support around 35,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, according to recent figures. The temporary financial support would apply to local civilian employees at major American installations such as Ramstein Air Base and Stuttgart, home of the Department of War’s European Command.
While the Pentagon has not confirmed whether the arrangement has been formally accepted, a DOW official told The Post that “we value the important contributions of our local national employees around the world.”
“Arrangements for pay to local national employees vary country-to-country based on specific agreements the U.S. has with each host nation,” the official added. If approved, Germany expects the U.S. to reimburse the payments once the shutdown is resolved.
Military and policy analysts have criticized Congress for allowing the shutdown—now the second-longest in U.S. history—to continue while federal workers and military staff go without pay. “Shame on us,” said Alex Plitsas of the Atlantic Council in a brief post to X on Wednesday.
If the shutdown extends into November, even Berlin’s emergency measure may not be enough to keep operations running smoothly, potentially leaving thousands of American families overseas in financial limbo as Capitol Hill’s budget stalemate drags on.
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