Timothy Mellon donates $130M to Pentagon for military pay during shutdown

During a federal government shutdown in its fourth week, Timothy Mellon — identified by the New York Times via two anonymous sources — anonymously donated $130 million to the U.S. government. The Pentagon accepted the funds under its 'general gift acceptance authority,' with the condition that the money be used to offset service members' salaries and benefits. The donation equates to approximately $100 per active-duty service member across the 1.3 million-strong force. Trump publicly praised the unnamed donor as a 'great American' and 'patriot' but declined to identify him. Legal experts note the arrangement is a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from accepting voluntary services or spending outside congressional appropriations except in narrow emergency circumstances.