Germany will cover the salaries of personnel working at US military bases in the country.
Germany plans to pay thousands of employees stationed at US military bases in the country whose salaries have been affected by the US government shutdown, the Finance Ministry announced in Berlin.
The US federal government shut down on October 1 after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill in the Senate. The stalemate has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees laid off or working without pay as the standoff enters its fourth week.
A spokesman for the German Finance Ministry told AFP on Wednesday that Berlin “Initiate unscheduled spending to ensure October salaries are paid on time.”
She described the measure as “a sign of solidarity with the American armed forces stationed in Germany and their civilian employees.”
The deal was reached in conjunction with the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, home to several major US bases, including Ramstein Air Base, headquarters of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa.
Germany, a key U.S. ally in NATO, hosts more U.S. military facilities than any other European country, with around 120 sites. The long-standing American presence dates back to the end of World War II.
Berlin expects to receive the refund once Washington resumes payments, the spokesman said.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to ensure US service members continue to receive pay during the shutdown.
The funding halt came after U.S. lawmakers failed to agree on extending federal health care subsidies, which are set to expire. Republicans have pushed for a short-term spending bill to keep the government open while broader budget talks continue, while Democrats have insisted that subsidies be extended before approving any deal, warning that millions of Americans could face steep increases in health insurance premiums. The two sides continue to accuse each other of using the crisis for political gain.
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