Bremen Jobcenter chief dismissed after €900,000 creative‑room scandal

The Träger assembly of the Bremen Jobcenter voted to remove its chief executive, Thorsten Spinn, with immediate effect, citing a sustained loss of trust. The decision follows revelations that a new creative‑ and multifunctional room cost around €900,000—far above the previously reported €600,000 and disproportionate to its purpose. The assembly, which includes representatives of the Federal Employment Agency, the state senator for labour, social affairs and integration, and the finance senator, said the CEO had failed to inform them adequately about the project’s scale and financing.

Interim leadership has been handed to deputy director Wiebke Müller while the assembly reviews further organisational, personnel and budgetary consequences. The dismissal also reflects broader criticism of the Bremen Jobcenter, which has faced scrutiny over previous budget allocations and a controversial termination of a long‑standing employee who criticised the citizen‑benefit system in a TV documentary.