Trump Timothy Mellon military donor government shutdown
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 22, 2025.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
The mysterious donor who will pay $130 million to the US military during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, heir to the famous Gilded Age family. The New York Times reported on Saturday, quoting two people familiar with the matter.
But Mellon’s donation is only around $100 per soldier. The donation may be against the law, the Times said.
When President Donald Trump announced the donation at the White House on Thursday, he did not name the person who provided the money, only describing the person as a “patriot” and “my friend.”
Mellon’s contribution was intended to help cover salaries and benefits for U.S. military troops while the government shutdown continues.
According to the Times, the donation may have violated the Anti-Deficiency Act, which prevents federal agencies from spending funds not appropriated by Congress.
Mellon’s gift is also unlikely to go far in offsetting the cost of military salaries.
Yes More than 1.3 million soldiers The active military and the Trump administration’s 2025 budget included requests for nearly $600 billion in military compensation, the Times reported.
