Thousands of miles away from the political deadlock in Washington D.C., the ramifications of the are being felt globally. While President Donald Trump found a temporary solution to pay U.S. troops, other personnel on base, including teachers and support staff, are not as fortunate.
Donna Irwin, a at a naval base in Italy, states that the impact is profoundly experienced. Irwin commented, “It has been absolutely terrible to watch and the morale at the school, I mean it’s low.”
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates 161 schools across 11 countries, seven states, and two territories, spanning 10 time zones. Nearly 900,000 children connected to military families reside worldwide, with 67,000 enrolled in DoDEA schools and supported by more than 14,000 employees.
In a statement, DoDEA’s communications operations chief Jessica Tackaberry told that they remain “committed to providing a world-class education” and that they “understand the difficulties this situation may create for our dedicated educators and staff who are working without pay. DoDEA is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide guidance and support to employees as needed.” Athletics and co-curricular activities are also currently classified as excepted activities.
Irwin considers herself fortunate that her husband, a sailor, is still receiving a paycheck, but with half their income currently suspended, they are implementing cutbacks. She noted that even once the government reopens, receiving repayment could still be a lengthy process.
She expressed, “Especially out here, you feel forgotten because we are here to support that mission — as DoD contractors, as spouses and . You know, these bases, these installations — they really don’t function without us, without our vital jobs and our support.”
This presents a unique challenge for Americans residing abroad. For many, taking a second job off base is prohibited under their contractual agreements. Being geographically separated from family who could offer assistance compounds the stress. Some are simply attempting to explain to European landlords that their employer is not remitting a paycheck, leaving them unable to afford rent or utility bills.
Irwin remarked, “We oftentimes forget about all those little auto-pay things we have — everything from streaming services to healthcare needs — and they’re having to do these deep dives into their bank accounts and cancel all of these, you know, car insurance, your vehicle.”
Despite the shutdown, educators say and that the mission continues — even if it means personally covering the cost of snacks and school supplies. Irwin works in a special education classroom, teaching essential life skills such as cooking and cleaning.
Irwin said, “I have no budget for any of that in my current classroom, so I’ve been having to go to the commissary myself and make do, trying to buy things that I can’t afford right now for these students who desperately need those life skills.” She continued, “I think the saddest thing for me is watching my students come in, and they don’t fully understand everything that’s happening with the government and with politics and to see them worried, to see them worry about, ‘Am I going to have a meal tomorrow, am I going to have a meal today?’”