Thousands of civilian employees serving at U.S. bases in European countries have faced income disruptions since the onset of the government shutdown.
In certain instances, host governments have decided to advance payments, anticipating reimbursement from Washington once the situation is resolved.
In Portugal, around 360 Portuguese workers at the Lajes Base with delayed salaries will be able to access an advance starting Monday, the Regional Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) announced today.
The Azorean executive published in the Official Journal the ordinance regulating the provision of temporary, repayable social financial support, corresponding to the advancement of the delayed wages of workers associated with the United States Forces in the Azores (USFORAZORES), at Lajes on Terceira Island.
Portugal and the United States have a Bilateral Defense and Cooperation Agreement that allows Americans to utilize military facilities at the Lajes Base, where a Portuguese civilian contingent is employed.
In Germany, the Ministry of Finance confirmed it has assumed the payment for approximately 11,000 civilian workers at American bases, including the Ramstein Air Base, a strategic center for U.S. operations in the Middle East and Africa.
In Italy, according to union coordinator Angelo Zaccaria, more than 4,600 Italians work at five American bases, with about 2,000, primarily at Aviano and Vicenza, not receiving their October wages.
The budget impasse, known as the ‘shutdown,’ began nearly six weeks ago, stemming from political deadlock in the United States regarding federal budget approval, leading to the suspension of payments and non-essential government activities.
According to the Congressional Budget Office estimates, approximately 750,000 non-essential federal employees were temporarily furloughed due to the shutdown.
Meanwhile, just over 1.5 million employees, including police officers and air traffic controllers, continue to work without pay until the administrative shutdown is resolved.
Democrats persist in refusing to approve the Republican budget in the Senate, unless negotiations for an extension of Obamacare health program subsidies are agreed upon.
Republicans claim they will not enter negotiations unless Democrats first approve the federal budget to end the federal government shutdown.
