The partial suspension of US government funding has affected not only the States themselves, but also their European bases, where federal authorities have stopped paying salaries to local workers due to the prolonged shutdown, the Associated Press revealed.
According to the agency, thousands of employees at US bases in Europe have not received salaries for almost six weeks - since the beginning of the suspension of US government funding.
In some countries, local authorities have temporarily taken over payments pending a decision from Washington. In others, including Italy and Portugal, staff continue to work without pay, while in the US capital the budget impasse continues.
US Air Force spokeswoman Amber Kelly-Herrard explained that the order of payment of local personnel depends on specific agreements with each host country, AP reports. She stressed that even if funding is suspended, employees are required to continue working according to their employment contracts.
US Air Force spokeswoman Amber Kelly-Herrard explained that the order of payment of local personnel depends on specific agreements with each host country, reports AP. She stressed that even if funding is suspended, employees are required to continue working according to their employment contracts.
At the same time, the Pentagon refused to comment on specific cases of salary delays, limiting itself to a statement recognizing the "important contribution" of local employees. Additional AP inquiries went unanswered.
According to the agency, Germany has taken over the payment of salaries for nearly 11,000 local employees at U.S. bases, including the key Ramstein Air Base, with the expectation of subsequent reimbursement from the United States.
In Italy, about 2,000 of the 4,600 local workers at five bases have not received their October salaries. According to the country's Foreign Ministry, the U.S. armed forces are in talks with the Pentagon to allocate funds to repay debts.
In Portugal, more than 360 workers at the Lajes base in the Azores islands have also been left without salaries. Regional authorities have approved a bank loan for temporary payments until the issue of U.S. funding is resolved. Workers are forced to continue working due to the risk of disciplinary sanctions.
About 1.4 million civil servants are either on unpaid leave or working without pay. The US administration also announced plans to lay off 4.1 thousand government employees.