Thousands of miles from the political gridlock in Washington D.C., the ripple effects of the government shutdown are being experienced globally. Although President Donald Trump managed to secure temporary payments for U.S. troops, others on the bases, such as teachers and support staff, are not as fortunate.
Donna Irwin, who works as a substitute teacher at a naval base in Italy, describes the situation as dire. “It’s been absolutely disheartening to witness, and the morale at the school is incredibly low,” she lamented.
Many American educators stationed abroad are restricted from taking additional jobs, leaving military school staff unpaid amid the shutdown.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) runs 161 schools spread across 11 countries, seven U.S. states, and two territories, covering 10 time zones. Globally, there are nearly 900,000 children connected to the military, with 67,000 attending DoDEA schools, served by a workforce exceeding 14,000.
Jessica Tackaberry, head of communications operations at DoDEA, informed Fox News that they remain “dedicated to delivering a top-tier education.” Acknowledging the hardships faced by their “committed educators and staff working without compensation,” she assured that DoDEA is “carefully monitoring the situation and will offer guidance and support as necessary.”
Currently, activities such as athletics and co-curricular programs are classified as essential and continue as planned.
The Department of Defense Education Activity acknowledges the challenges faced by educators and staff working without pay during the government shutdown.
Irwin considers herself lucky that her husband is still getting a paycheck as a sailor, but with half their income on hold, they’re cutting back. She says that even when the government reopens, repayment can still take a while.
“Especially out here, you feel forgotten because we are here to support that mission — as DoD contractors, as spouses and family members of the service members,. You know, these bases, these installations — they really don’t function without us, without our vital jobs and our support,” she said.
It’s a unique situation for Americans living abroad. For many, taking a second job off base isn’t allowed under their contract agreements. Living an ocean away from family who could help adds to the stress. Some are simply trying to explain to European landlords that their employer isn’t sending a paycheck, and they can’t afford rent or utility bills.
Some teachers at military bases abroad pay out of pocket for snacks and school supplies for their students as they work without compensation during the government shutdown. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“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,” Irwin said.
Despite the shutdown, educators say their students still come first and that the mission continues — even if it means footing the bill themselves for snacks and school supplies. Irwin works in a special education classroom, teaching essential life skills such as cooking and cleaning.
“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,” Irwin said. “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?’”
