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Government shutdown reaches overseas bases as many feel the strain
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Thousands of miles from the stalemate in Washington D.C., the effects of the government shutdown are being felt around the world. While President Donald Trump found a way to temporarily pay U.S. troops — others on base aren’t so lucky, including teachers and support staff.
Donna Irwin, a substitute teacher at a naval base in Italy. She says the impact is deeply felt. «It has been absolutely terrible to watch and the morale at the school, I mean it’s low,» Irwin said.
LAWMAKER WARNS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS POTENTIALLY LEADING TO BIG WASTE IN THE MILITARY, IMPACTING READINESS
Some American educators abroad are not allowed to take second jobs while the government shutdown leaves military school staff unpaid overseas.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates 161 schools in 11 countries, seven states, and two territories across 10 time zones. Nearly 900,000 military-connected children live worldwide, 67,000 of whom are enrolled in DoDEA schools and served by more than 14,000 employees.
In a statement, DoDEA’s communications operations chief Jessica Tackaberry, told Fox News 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 considered excepted activities at this time.
The Communications Operations Chief of 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.
HOUSE CONSERVATIVE LEADER GIVES BLESSING TO SENATE SHUTDOWN DEAL, WITH ‘ONE CAVEAT’
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 health care 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.
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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 try 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 to watch 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?’»
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INTERNACIONAL
G7 threatens Iran with new sanctions over nationwide protest crackdown killing thousands
Report: over 2,500 have been killed in Iranian protests
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst joins ‘America Reports’ from Tel Aviv with reports that over 2,500 have been killed amid Iran’s ongoing protests as President Donald Trump threatens potential action if they continue to escalate.
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Group of Seven (G7) nations warned Iran on Wednesday that they are prepared to impose additional sanctions on the country if the regime continues with its violent crackdown on protests.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S., joined by the European Union’s high representative, expressed «grave concern» over the reports of mass casualties, widespread injuries and alleged human rights abuses as a result of the spiraling unrest.
IRANIAN DISSIDENT UNLOADS ON AMERICAN LEFT’S SILENCE ON DEADLY PROTESTS
Group of Seven (G7) nations warned Iran on Wednesday that they are prepared to impose additional sanctions on the country. (Government of Canada / Pool /Anadolu via Getty Images)
The development comes as Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) announced the deaths of 2,403 protesters. Other reports say the death toll is over 3,000, with the real number likely to be higher.
«We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, are gravely concerned by the developments surrounding the ongoing protests in Iran,» the statement said.
«We strongly oppose the intensification of the Iranian authorities’ brutal repression of the Iranian people, who have been bravely voicing legitimate aspirations for a better life, dignity and freedom, since the end of December 2025,» it read.
The G7 also stated it was «deeply alarmed at reports of deaths and injuries» and condemned what it described as the «deliberate use of violence and the killing of protesters, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators.»
IRAN PUSHES FOR FAST TRIALS AND EXECUTIONS OF SUSPECTS DETAINED IN PROTESTS DESPITE TRUMP’S WARNING: REPORT
Tear gas is fired at protesters during an anti-government protest, Jan. 8, in Tehran, Iran. (UGC via AP)
The protests, which began Dec. 28, came amid deepening economic distress and the collapse of the Iranian rial. They quickly spread nationwide and evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.
The G7 ministers also urged Iranian authorities to show restraint and end the use of force against civilians, calling on Tehran to respect its international obligations and protect the rights to «freedom of expression, to seek, receive and impart information, and the freedom of association and peaceful assembly, without fear of reprisal.»
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While the joint statement did not list specific new sanctions, it made clear that additional action remains on the table, signaling unity among leading Western powers.
«Iran’s continued crackdown in violation of international human rights obligations could prompt further restrictive measures from the G7,» the ministers said.
iran,middle east,ali khamenei,world protests,the european union,united kingdom,human rights,sanctions,mass murder
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Democrats eye narrow path to capture Senate majority, but one wrong move could sink them
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Senate Democrats are publicly laying out their roadmap to reclaim the chamber in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that President Donald Trump’s agenda and an expanded battleground map give them multiple paths back to the majority.
Charging that «President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that’s harming people,» Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital she’s «optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority.»
Democrats need a net gain of four seats after Senate Republicans flipped four seats in the 2024 cycle to secure a 53-47 majority. But party leaders say recent Democratic overperformances in the 2025 elections, combined with GOP-held seats now in play, have widened the map far beyond initial expectations — even as Republicans insist the political environment still favors them.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS, IN FIRST 2026 ROAD TRIP, TOUT BORDER SECURITY, TAX CUTS
An exterior view of the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 12, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
A DSCC memo titled «Senate Democrats Carve Out Path to Senate Majority in 2026,» which was released on Wednesday, highlights that «at the start of 2025, Democrats had two clear offensive targets: Maine and North Carolina. Over the past year, the DSCC expanded the battleground map significantly and created multiple potential paths to the majority.»
Gillibrand charged that Trump «is creating this massive backlash because of his bad and hurtful and harmful agenda,» which she said «adds more to the map.»
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the longtime party leader in the chamber, agreed, telling The Associated Press, «it’s a much wider path than the skeptics think, and a much wider path than it was three months ago and certainly a year ago.»
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, the top Democrat in the chamber, is optimistic about his party’s chances of winning back the majority in the 2026 midterm elections. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo)
Gillibrand, in her interview with Fox News Digital, and the DSCC in its memo, touted the party’s top recruits for three GOP-held seats they’re working to flip: former three-term Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, former two-term North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and two-term Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
And Gillibrand highlighted the DSCC’s most recent recruiting success, Monday’s landing of former Rep. Mary Peltola, who was twice elected statewide to Alaska’s at-large House seat, which could potentially put the red-leaning state in play this year.
The DSCC also has its eyes on battleground turned red state Iowa, where there’s an open GOP-held seat, and Texas, where longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn is trying to survive a competitive and combustible primary as he seeks re-election.
But Democrats are also facing crowded Senate primaries.
4 KEY SENATE SEATS REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP IN 2026 MIDTERMS TO EXPAND THEIR MAJORITY
Democrat Gov. Janet Mills announced that she will run for Maine’s Senate seat in October 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Mills is facing a formidable rival on the left in Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran who is backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders.
There are also competitive Democratic Senate primaries in Texas, Iowa and Michigan, where Democrats are playing defense as they aim to hold the seat held by retiring two-term Sen. Gary Peters, Gillibrand’s predecessor at the DSCC. Republicans in the Great Lakes State are mostly rallying behind former Rep. Mike Rogers, who’s making a second straight bid for the Senate.
Asked whether her party’s Senate primaries will impede success in November, a confident Gillibrand said, «I think we will have the best candidates in each one of these states.»
While the party in power — clearly the Republicans right now — traditionally faces political headwinds in the midterm elections, and with Democrats riding a wave of momentum following a slew of ballot box victories in 2025, a current read of the 2026 map indicates the GOP may be able to go on offense in some key states.
Gillibrand’s counterpart, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, told Fox News Digital last month that «54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side.»
GOP SENATE CAMPAIGN CHIEF AIMS TO EXPAND 2026 MAP IN THIS BLUE-LEANING STATE
Asked about Scott’s aspirations to pick up one or two seats, Gillibrand quickly responded, «No chance.»
«I’m very optimistic that with the quality of candidates that we have, with the recruiting failures and the poor candidates the Republicans have, and this very harmful climate that President Trump is creating, we have all the makings of a blue wave,» Gillibrand emphasized.
NRSC’s communications director, Joanna Rodriguez, argued that the «Democrats’ battleground map is littered with failed career politicians no longer aligned with the values of their states and messy, nasty primaries that will leave Schumer with a majority of candidates that have all pledged to vote him out.»
Democrats are also playing defense in blue-leaning Minnesota, where Sen. Tina Smith is retiring, and the party faces another competitive primary, and in swing state New Hampshire, where former governor and longtime Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring.
And in Georgia, Republicans see first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat up for re-election this cycle. But a nasty three-way GOP Senate primary may hurt the Republicans’ chances of flipping the seat in the crucial southeastern battleground.
AFFORDABILITY BOOSTS DEMOCRATS AT BALLOT BOX IN 2025 AFTER INFLATION HELPED TRUMP AND GOP SOAR IN 2024
Deep concerns over inflation boosted Trump and Republicans to sweeping victories at the ballot box in 2024, as they won back the White House and Senate and kept their House majority.
But Democrats say their decisive victories in November’s elections were fueled by their laser focus on affordability.
Don’t expect any letup in Democrats’ cost-of-living messaging.
President Donald Trump speaks on inflation at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
«Candidates that connect with their voters, candidates that are listening to the concerns that their constituents have, those are the candidates that win elections, and we saw Democrats do that across the board in 2025,» Gillibrand said. «Candidates that understand what people are going through are the ones that connect with voters, and that’s the kind of candidates we are marshaling in this election, and we are supporting this election.»
But Scott predicts the tide will turn for Republicans on the affordability issue.
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«I’ve said 2026 is a year of affordability, and the great news is President Trump has been producing time and time again,» the NRSC chair touted.
Pointing to the tax cut provisions in the GOP’s sweeping domestic policy measure signed into law this past summer by Trump, Scott said «2026 is shaping up to be the year where Donald Trump’s activities, his actions, the legislation we’ve passed, shows up for the American voter. And consumers all across the country will see a more affordable economy because of President Trump and the Senate majority and the House majority in the hands of the Republican Party.»
elections,democrats elections,midterm elections,senate elections,democratic party,republicans elections,campaigning
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