Elon Musk halts NATO base spending in Italy amid protests
Elon Musk, heading 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, led by Elon Musk, has decided to block the business payment cards of employees at NATO bases in Vicenza, Aviano, and Tuscany. This decision affects employees in commercial offices, the military, and the civilian sectors.
The blocked cards were used for representational expenses and minor purchases. Only a symbolic dollar was left in the employees' accounts. In addition to the card freezing, civilian passes were suspended, except for certain employees, at the NATO airbase in Aviano, which is managed by U.S. forces.
These decisions are part of DOGE's plan to introduce a centralised technology system to record every business card transaction. Until this system is implemented, the cards in Vicenza will be suspended for 30 days. Employees at the Aviano base were instructed to write a report about their work.
Italian trade unions outraged
Italian trade unions have expressed outrage, emphasising that local employees should be subject to national regulations. Consequently, official inquiries have been sent to the U.S. government regarding the future of Italian base workers in light of Musk's decision.
