Elon Musk halts NATO base spending in Italy amidst uproar
Elon Musk, leading the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, has blocked the business payment cards of NATO base employees in Italy.
The American Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, decided to block the business payment cards of employees at NATO bases in Vicenza, Aviano, and Tuscany. The decision affects staff in both commercial offices and military and civilian sectors.
The blocked cards were used for representational expenses and minor purchases. Only a symbolic dollar was left in the employees' accounts. At the NATO airbase in Aviano, operated by U.S. forces, civilian passes were suspended in addition to freezing the cards, except for certain employees.
These decisions are part of the Department of Government Efficiency's plan to introduce a centralized technology system to record every business card transaction. Until this system is in place, the cards in Vicenza have been suspended for 30 days. Aviano base employees have been instructed to write a report about their work.
Italian trade unions outraged
Italian trade unions expressed outrage, emphasizing that local employees should be subject to national regulations. As a result, official inquiries have been sent to the U.S. government regarding the future of Italian base workers in light of Musk's decision.
