During the government shutdown in its fourth week, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced it had accepted an anonymous private donation of $130 million aimed at covering active-duty military salaries. President Donald Trump publicly praised the gift as a patriotic gesture, describing the donor simply as “a friend” who “loves the military and loves the country.” While the DOD confirmed the funds were directed toward service-member pay under its “general gift acceptance authority,” they noted the amount covers only a tiny fraction of the roughly $6.5 billion needed every two weeks for military payroll.

Reports in major outlets, including Timothy Mellon’s name, suggest that the donor is a reclusive billionaire heir and major political backer of Trump.  However, neither Mellon nor the White House has officially confirmed his identity. The uncertainty has sparked legal and ethical debates, as such private funding of military pay raises questions about congressional appropriations and the Anti‑Deficiency Act, which limits federal agencies from spending beyond or outside legislative authorization.

Public reactions have been divided. Some view the donation as a generous stopgap to protect troops during a political impasse, while others fear the precedent it sets—private billionaires filling government funding gaps—and worry about transparency, accountability, and long-term implications. Regardless of who made the contribution, it has become a potent symbol of private wealth entering public functions during a period of institutional gridlock.