[Germany] Federal government will pay local staff at US bases during Trump’s shutdown

In Germany, the federal government has announced that it will pay the around 11,000 local employees at US military bases in the country whose paycheques have been impacted by the Trump administration’s shutdown in Washington, France 24 reports.

On October 22, a ministry spokesperson said, "The federal government will initiate an unscheduled expenditure to ensure that October salaries are paid on time." 

The previous day, the trade union Verdi stated that local staff had continued to be paid during past US government shutdowns. However, it reportedly expressed fears that the current administration appeared likely to halt paycheques.

The union contended that doing so would be a clear violation of German law. It urged a solution to prevent any missed pay.

Speaking to AFP on October 22, the finance ministry spokesperson said that it currently remains unclear whether US payments might still come through despite the shutdown.

The federal government in Berlin and the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate therefore struck the deal to guarantee salaries will be paid and avoid any issues, they said.

The German government reportedly anticipates being reimbursed for the payroll cost once the US side makes payment.

Berlin's contribution is "a sign of solidarity with the US armed forces stationed in Germany and their civilian employees", the spokesperson said.

Source: France 24

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Germany, the federal government has announced that it will pay the around 11,000 local employees at US military bases in the country whose paycheques have been impacted by the Trump administration’s shutdown in Washington, France 24 reports.

On October 22, a ministry spokesperson said, "The federal government will initiate an unscheduled expenditure to ensure that October salaries are paid on time." 

The previous day, the trade union Verdi stated that local staff had continued to be paid during past US government shutdowns. However, it reportedly expressed fears that the current administration appeared likely to halt paycheques.

The union contended that doing so would be a clear violation of German law. It urged a solution to prevent any missed pay.

Speaking to AFP on October 22, the finance ministry spokesperson said that it currently remains unclear whether US payments might still come through despite the shutdown.

The federal government in Berlin and the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate therefore struck the deal to guarantee salaries will be paid and avoid any issues, they said.

The German government reportedly anticipates being reimbursed for the payroll cost once the US side makes payment.

Berlin's contribution is "a sign of solidarity with the US armed forces stationed in Germany and their civilian employees", the spokesperson said.

Source: France 24

(Quotes via original reporting)