America needs its military to be strong and prepared. The country can’t afford the opposite.
And the U.S. military gets some desperately needed back-up from an unexpected ally.
In a stunning twist that exposes the chaos in Washington, Germany has stepped up to cover the salaries of American military personnel stationed on its soil amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. This move by Berlin highlights just how far the dysfunction has gone, with a foreign ally picking up the slack for American own troops.
The German Ministry of Finance confirmed they’re ready to front the cash for U.S. civilian workers at American bases in the country.
A spokeswoman explained that the government is initiating an unscheduled expenditure to make sure October paychecks go out without a hitch, as reported to Agence France-Presse.
This comes as no surprise to those watching the political gridlock in D.C., where Senate Democrats have stonewalled 11 different efforts to get the government back up and running this month. Their refusal to budge has left hardworking Americans in uniform hanging in the balance.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly didn’t mince words on the matter. “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,’” she said to the New York Post.
Kelly went on to emphasize the president’s stance. “President Trump has prioritized funding military pay, 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.”
With around 35,000 U.S. troops based in Germany, supported by about 11,000 civilian Pentagon employees, the stakes are high. These folks are the backbone of U.S. operations overseas, keeping things running at key installations.
The German offer targets local U.S. civilian workers at major sites like the massive Ramstein Air Base and the Stuttgart headquarters for the Department of War’s European Command. It’s a temporary fix to keep families from facing financial hardship.
While the Pentagon hasn’t officially signed off on the deal, a Department of War official acknowledged the gesture. “We value the important contributions of our local national employees around the world,” the official said to the New York Post.
The same official noted that payment setups for these workers differ from one nation to another. “Arrangements for pay to local national employees vary country-to-country based on specific agreements the US has with each host nation,” they explained.
Assuming the U.S. accepts, Berlin expects full repayment once the shutdown ends and funds flow again. It’s a pragmatic approach, but one that shouldn’t be necessary if leaders in Congress did their jobs.
Experts in military and political circles are slamming the ongoing impasse, which has now become the second-longest shutdown on record. The finger-pointing is fierce, aimed squarely at those prolonging the pain for federal workers and military families.
Alex Plitsas from the Atlantic Council captured the frustration perfectly in a post on X. “Shame on us,” he wrote, summing up the embarrassment of relying on allies to bail out America’s own people.
This whole episode paints a clear picture of priorities gone wrong in Washington. While President Trump fights to secure funding for the military, Democrats dig in their heels over issues like benefits for those here illegally.
If the standoff spills into November, even Germany’s generous bridge loan might not hold. Thousands of American families abroad could face real turmoil, all because of a budget battle that’s more about politics than patriotism.
In the end, this German intervention serves as a wake-up call. It’s time for Democrats to stop playing games and let the government reopen, ensuring U.S. troops and their support staff get the respect and pay they deserve without foreign handouts.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
