The anonymous benefactor behind a $130 million donation intended to support U.S. military personnel during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, heir to a famous banking dynasty from the Gilded Age, as reported by The New York Times on Saturday.
However, Mellon’s donation amounts to approximately $100 for each service member, while paying U.S. troops biweekly costs nearly $6.4 billion.
Moreover, utilizing his funds may contradict federal law, as per the Times, which cited two sources familiar with the situation in identifying the billionaire railroad tycoon as the donor.
When President Donald Trump announced the contribution at the White House last Thursday, he did not name the individual but referred to him as a “great patriot” and a “friend of mine.”
“And he’s a strong supporter of mine,” Trump told the press on Friday evening. “He’s a remarkable man, and he prefers to avoid publicity.”
Mellon’s estimated net worth is nearly $1 billion, according to Forbes.
However, in a 2024 email to the news organization, Mellon stated, “Billionaire NOT! … Never have been, never will be.”
Mellon’s donation seeks to assist in covering the salaries and benefits of U.S. military officials as the federal shutdown continues.
The donation may have breached the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from utilizing funds not appropriated by Congress, according to the Times.
Mellon’s contribution is also improbable to significantly mitigate military pay expenses.
There are over 1.3 million active-duty military personnel, and the proposed budget from the Trump administration for 2025 requested around $600 billion for military compensation, according to the Times.
Mellon, whose grandfather, Andrew Mellon, was one of the longest-standing Treasury secretaries, has been a consistent supporter of Trump.
He made a $50 million contribution to Trump’s super PAC during the 2024 election cycle, one of the largest individual donations ever disclosed, according to The Times.
A representative for Sen. Chris Coons informed NBC News that the Delaware Democrat is apprehensive about permitting anonymous donors to finance government expenditures.
“Utilizing anonymous donations to fund our military raises concerning questions regarding whether our troops are at risk of literally being bought out by foreign entities,” stated the spokesman.
