In an unprecedented move, a private donation of $130 million has been made to the U.S. federal government to cover military salaries during a government shutdown. The donor was revealed to be Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump. President Trump, who announced the gift, praised Mellon as a “patriot” and a “great American citizen,” highlighting the donor’s desire to avoid publicity for his substantial contribution.
Who is Timothy Mellon?
So, who is the man behind this enormous gift? Timothy Mellon is a wealthy heir to the famed Mellon banking and industrial fortune. He is the grandson of Andrew W. Mellon, who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932. Despite his immense wealth and significant political spending, Mellon has consistently maintained a very low public profile. He primarily lives in Wyoming and has been a major financial backer of Donald Trump and the Republican Party in recent election cycles.
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A Powerful But Private Political Player
What does Mellon’s political involvement look like? His financial influence in politics is considerable. In 2024 alone, he gave $50 million to a super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign, which was one of the largest single contributions ever publicly disclosed. His support, however, is not exclusive to Trump. Mellon has donated millions to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign and to his anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense. These actions show that he is ready to fund people and movements that reflect his views, often without being in the spotlight.
How is the Donation Being Used?
The Pentagon has officially accepted Mellon’s $130 million donation under its “general gift acceptance authority.” The funds have a specific condition: they must be used to help pay the salaries and benefits of active-duty service members during the budget impasse. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, confirmed this arrangement. While the sum is vast, it is relatively small within the context of the entire U.S. military budget, which spends about $600 billion a year on pay. This donation would amount to roughly $100 per active-duty service member.
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Could This Donation Be Illegal?
This large private gift to the government raises an important question: is it legal? Although the Pentagon accepted the funds, legal specialists are sounding alarms. They think the donation could go against the Antideficiency Act, which makes sure no money is spent without Congress’s approval. This puts the situation in a gray zone, where a helpful gift may conflict with congressional authority.
