$130 Million ‘Gift’ To Pentagon: Are US Troops Being Paid With Anonymous Money?

The Donald Trump administration plans to use a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of the US President to pay military service members during the government shutdown.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN, adding that the amount was accepted under the department’s “general gift acceptance authority.”

Trump had announced the donation in remarks at the White House on Thursday, saying a “patriot” and “friend of mine” whose name he withheld said he would like to contribute to any shortfall in funds caused by the shutdown.

“He called us the other day and he said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because

of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to contribute, personally contribute, any shortfall you have with the military, because I love the military and I love the country.’ … And today, he sent us a check for $130 million,” Trump said.

White House officials said that covering the cost of military pay for the first half of October totaled about $6.5 billion. Todd Harrison, a defense budget analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, said that based on that figure, the new donation will cover about one-third of one day’s pay for the force.

The move represents a sharp departure from the standard government process for financing the military, which typically relies on public funds approved by Congress. It raised immediate questions about the donor’s identity and motivations for cutting the nine-figure check to the government.

Meanwhile, Congress members from both Democratic and Republican sides have sought more information on the donation from the administration, but have yet to receive a reply.

Democrats also raised concerns about its legality, contending that the gift acceptance authority cited by the Pentagon only permits gifts for a handful of specific purposes — such as funding military schools, hospitals, cemeteries or to benefit wounded troops or the dependents of those injured or killed in the line of duty. Donations can also face additional, tighter restrictions if they come from foreign governments or organisations.