In a recent budget proposal for 2025, the German government has allocated 1.2 billion euros for “military transportation infrastructure investments” within the defense budget. The move, according to Greens’ budget expert Sebastian Schäfer, appears to be a “transfer hub” shifting funds from the transportation budget to the defense budget.
Schäfer, speaking to the Spiegel, expressed concerns that the allocation of funds for infrastructure projects, such as autobahn construction and rail development, is not in line with the original purpose of the defense budget. The Bundesrechnungshof, Germany’s federal auditing agency, had previously warned against expanding the defense budget with “non-defense-related expenditures.”
The Greens’ expert has called on the Ministry of Defense to explain how the infrastructure investments will contribute to the security of Germany. In response, the Ministry stated that the specific projects are still being coordinated in a cross-departmental process.