Elon Musk halts NATO base spending in Italy, unions react
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, led by Elon Musk, 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. Civilian passes were also suspended at the NATO airbase in Aviano, managed by U.S. forces, except for certain employees.
These decisions are part of the Department's plan to introduce a centralized technology system to record every business card transaction. Until this system is implemented, the cards in Vicenza have been suspended for 30 days. Aviano base employees were instructed to write a report about their work.
Italian trade unions outraged
Italian trade unions expressed outrage, highlighting that local employees should be subject to national regulations. As a result, the U.S. government has been officially contacted regarding the future of Italian base workers in light of Musk's decision.
