Pentagon Accepts $130M Donation for Troop Salaries

The United States Department of Defense confirmed on Friday that it will use a $130 million donation from businessman Timothy Mellon to pay military service members during the ongoing government shutdown.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits. He stated that the Defense Department accepted the funds under its “general gift acceptance authority.”

The donation, directed to the Pentagon during a lapse in federal funding, is intended to help maintain troop pay. The department confirmed receipt of the funds but did not disclose additional details about how the payment will be administered.

Timothy Mellon, a private investor and heir to the Mellon banking family, was identified as the donor by former President Donald Trump, who described Mellon as a “friend.” Trump announced on Thursday that the donation was made to assist with covering military pay during the shutdown.

Officials at the White House and the Department of the Treasury did not provide further comment on the transaction or whether any review of the donation’s source was conducted.

Members of Congress from both major parties said they were seeking clarification about the donation’s legality and use. Lawmakers noted that the Defense Department’s gift authority traditionally limits private contributions to specific purposes such as military education, healthcare, or assistance for wounded or fallen service members.

Budget experts, including Bill Hoagland of the Bipartisan Policy Center, cautioned that applying the funds to active-duty salaries could violate the Antideficiency Act, which restricts agencies from spending funds not appropriated by Congress.

The Pentagon has not indicated whether it will brief Congress on the details of the donation or provide a compliance review.