Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced that defense officials accepted a $130 million donation to help pay military salaries during the government shutdown. The New York Times, citing two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported the donor is Timothy Mellon.
Trump repeatedly declined to name the person who gave the money. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Friday, he just said the donor is a “great American citizen” and a “substantial man.”
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“He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump said. “He prefers that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”
The New York Times wrote that the White House declined to comment, and multiple attempts they made to reach Mellon were unsuccessful.
Who is Timothy Mellon?
Mellon is the grandson of former Treasury Secretary and Gilded Age industrialist Andrew W. Mellon. As of February 2024, the Mellons are the 34th richest family in America, according to Forbes.
Described by the NYT as a “reclusive billionaire,” Mellon gave hundreds of millions of dollars to support Trump and the Republican party. He also donated millions to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as his anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense.
According to OpenSecrets, Mellon put $165 million toward the 2024 election, making him a “top donor” fueling outside spending groups” that year.
The Pentagon, in a statement to the NYT, said it accepted the donation under the “general gift acceptance authority.”
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said.
However, the newspaper noted that the donation could be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which “prohibits federal agencies from obligating or expending federal funds in advance or in excess of an appropriation and from accepting voluntary services.” Department of Defense rules state that any donations over $10,000 that benefit troops or their family members have to be reviewed by ethics officers to make sure “the donor does not have interests that may be affected substantially.”
Military pay and the government shutdown
The government shutdown started Oct. 1, after Congress members failed to reach an agreement on a Republican-led funding bill. Republicans say they want a bill without extra provisions, and that Democrats want to add them. Democrats argue that in the current legislation, the GOP is refusing to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which could make health insurance premiums rise to levels many can’t afford.
During the shutdown, federal workers have either been temporarily laid off or worked without pay, with many missing their first paychecks Friday. Military members were also initially poised to miss their Oct. 15 paychecks because of the shutdown, but Trump administration officials said they identified $6.5 billion in research and development funds to ensure military members get paid.
Service members confirmed to USA Today that they did end up getting paid on Oct. 15 — but future checks are still in limbo.
Todd Harrison, a defense budget analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, told Politico that the $130 million donation will only cover about one-third of one day’s pay for troops.
“This sounds like a half baked idea that hasn’t been vetted or implemented,” Harrison said.
