Timothy Mellon donates $130M to help pay troops amid shutdown

Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and longtime backer of President Donald Trump, was the private donor who provided $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay active-duty troops during the federal government shutdown, two people familiar with the matter said. The gift was announced by the president on Thursday and was accepted by the Pentagon this week under its general gift acceptance authority.

The Pentagon said the donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members' salaries and benefits, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. President Trump said the donor had asked to remain anonymous. "He doesn't want publicity," Mr. Trump said as he departed Washington, adding that the individual was a patriot and a friend.

The donation addresses immediate concerns about pay for roughly 1.3 million active-duty service members, but it would cover only a small portion of Pentagon payroll. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Trump administration's 2025 budget requested about $600 billion in total military compensation. By that measure, $130 million amounts to roughly $100 per service member and would cover less than...