German Federal States Call for Enhanced Federal Assistance for Deteriorating Infrastructure

Federal states call for increased financial aid from the federal government for police forces, suggesting a dedicated fund. According to a survey by the Police Trade Union (GdP), reported by 'Ippen-Media', multiple police stations in Germany are in poor condition, and the vehicle fleet is in...

, and ASMedia

2025 September 2 . 3:52 AM

2 min read

Federal German States Petition for Increased Federal Aid to Address Aging Infrastructure

German Federal States Call for Enhanced Federal Assistance for Deteriorating Infrastructure

The German government is considering a special fund to support police infrastructure, as numerous police stations across the country face deterioration and hundreds are reportedly in a dilapidated state [1]. This potential fund would not only be used to support state police but also federal police forces, aiming to strengthen internal security.

The idea for a special fund has been supported by various federal states, including Saxony, and the Bremen Senate of the Interior, which considers such a fund as appropriate and very welcome [2]. The Saxon Ministry of the Interior has also expressed its support for a federal special fund for police infrastructure and IT systems [3].

The proposed fund would include support for infrastructure and climate protection, with the police being a state task [4]. The backlog in investments for police infrastructure is in the double-digit billions, and vehicle fleets in some cases are in a dire state [1].

The news of a potential special fund comes as the German federal government has already established a €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr (armed forces) to address years of underinvestment following security concerns raised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine [4][2]. This special fund is primarily focused on military and defense infrastructure, with the total defense budget expected to reach about €82.7 billion in 2026, reflecting a significant increase from previous years [2][4].

Regarding police infrastructure, the federal government is also increasing investments in internal security. Plans include adding 1,000 police officers to the Federal Police in 2026 as part of a broader security and staffing upgrade [2]. These investments come as part of a larger fiscal plan focused on security and defense, supported by the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality [2].

However, compared to defense spending, explicit federal special funds devoted solely to police infrastructure are less detailed in available sources. Police funding is largely supplemented by federal contributions but remains administered largely at the state (Länder) level, which also respond to federal signals and budget allocations.

In summary, while the €100 billion special fund targets Bundeswehr modernization and expansion, there is a strong parallel emphasis on funding state and federal police forces to strengthen internal security infrastructure through increased staffing and financial support [2]. The potential special fund for police infrastructure, if implemented, could potentially alleviate the financial burden on budget-strapped states like Bremen and cover IT systems and infrastructure, including evidence networks.

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