$130 million benefactor who helped US military during shutdown finally named

As the government shutdown stretched into its fourth week, frustration and anxiety rippled across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees went without pay, and critical public services began to feel the strain.

Amid the growing crisis, President Donald Trump revealed that an anonymous “patriot” had contributed $130 million to help fund military salaries. Although The New York Times later suggested the donor was Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire from a historic American fortune, neither the White House nor Mellon has confirmed the claim.

The donation, reportedly routed through a nonprofit supporting military families, temporarily ensured that service members would continue to receive paychecks. Trump praised the move as a remarkable gesture of goodwill.

Timothy Mellon, seen outside an inspection train during a property tour in 1981. Exact date and location unknown/ Associated Press

However, the donation raised legal concerns. Some experts questioned whether the Pentagon's acceptance of such funds under its “general gift acceptance authority” might violate the Anti-Deficiency Act, which prevents federal agencies from using funds not explicitly allocated by Congress.

A spokesperson for Senator Chris Coons, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, voiced alarm over the donor's anonymity.

“Anonymous contributions to our military raise serious concerns, including whether foreign actors could be influencing our troops,” the spokesperson said in a statement reported by NBC News.

REUTERS via NewYork Post

CBS News interviewed Anna Massoglia, a campaign finance expert, who noted, “Timothy Mellon was once little-known in political circles, but in recent years his donations have soared, placing him among the top political contributors in the country.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell expressed gratitude in a statement: “This gift was expressly designated to support military salaries and benefits. We appreciate this donor’s help in the wake of Democrats’ refusal to fund our troops.”

Still, the $130 million gift is only a small fraction of the $6.5 billion needed every two weeks to pay and support the U.S. military. With Congress at a stalemate, the long-term funding outlook remains uncertain.

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