Key Takeaways
- Mellon Revealed as Donor: Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and longtime Trump supporter, was identified as the anonymous donor behind the $130 million gift to help pay U.S. service members during the shutdown.
- Private Patriotism Amid Government Failure: The Pentagon confirmed it accepted the donation under its gift authority, marking an unprecedented move as political gridlock in Washington continues to block pay for active-duty troops.
- Democrats Cry Foul While Troops Benefit: Democrats are questioning the legality of the contribution under the Antideficiency Act, but for many Americans, Mellon’s gesture symbolizes patriotism, generosity, and a stark contrast to Congress’s dysfunction.
In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration announced Friday that it has accepted a $130 million private donation to help pay U.S. service members during the ongoing government shutdown. The contribution, described as coming from “a friend” of President Trump, was confirmed by the Pentagon and accepted under the Department of Defense’s general gift acceptance authority.
Now, billionaire Timothy Mellon has been revealed as the mysterious donor behind the contribution, according to reports. Mellon, a major financial backer of President Donald Trump and heir to the Mellon banking fortune, made the donation under the Pentagon’s “general gift acceptance authority,” which allows private contributions for limited military purposes.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the donation Friday, saying it was made “on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits.” The gift, while unprecedented, underscores the depth of private support for the military amid congressional gridlock.
President Trump called the donation “a beautiful act of patriotism,” telling reporters that Mellon “wanted to help the troops directly when politicians refused to do their jobs.”
The $130 million figure represents roughly $100 per active-duty service member, far from enough to fund military payrolls entirely, but the symbolism carries weight. In a time when Washington’s dysfunction has left soldiers uncertain about their paychecks, a private citizen’s intervention has sparked debate about both legality and leadership.
Democrats have questioned whether the donation violates the Antideficiency Act or could invite undue influence, while budget experts say the law is murky on whether such funds can fill gaps during a shutdown.
For Trump’s allies, however, the donation represents the best of American ingenuity and generosity — a private solution to a problem caused by public incompetence. Mellon’s move, they argue, isn’t just about money; it’s a statement that when bureaucrats stall, the American spirit steps up.