U.S. president Donald Trump announced that a billionaire donated $130 million to pay U.S. troops amid the ongoing government shutdown. The Pentagon confirmed it accepted the gift under its “general gift acceptance authority,” aiming to partially offset active-duty salaries.
Sources have identified the donor as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and long-time Trump ally. Mellon’s donation totals about $130 million, but analysts warn it covers only a fraction of a full military payroll.
Despite praise from Trump, budget experts raised legal and ethical concerns. They argued that the gift could violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars spending that lacks explicit congressional appropriation.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the funds came with the condition that they go toward servicemembers’ pay and benefits. The Pentagon spends roughly $7.5 billion every two weeks to support its uniformed personnel, making Mellon’s gift relatively modest.
Some lawmakers, meanwhile, expressed unease over private funding for military pay. They insisted that Congress should pass a full budget to secure troop salaries instead of relying on one-off private contributions. Budget analysts also noted the risk of creating precedent where wealthy donors influence government functions.
Moreover, Mellon’s background drew attention. He is heir to the Mellon banking fortune, and his net worth ranges from $700 million to $4 billion, according to public reports. His donation underscores both his financial capacity and commitment to the military. However, legal experts reiterated that this donation raises serious governance questions.
For now, Pentagon officials said they will track how the donation integrates into their existing budget and ensure it clears ethics reviews. In the meantime, lawmakers continue to debate whether private gifts should play any role in funding military operations.
