The identity of the anonymous “patriot” who donated $130 million to cover U.S. military pay during the ongoing government shutdown has been revealed. The donor is Timothy Mellon, an 83-year-old reclusive banking heir and grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon. The news, first reported by The New York Times, sheds light on the mysterious benefactor whom President Trump had previously praised for an “extraordinary act of generosity.”
The donation was announced by the White House in late October as the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, left military families facing financial uncertainty. President Trump described the donor as a “substantial man” who did not want publicity. The funds were reportedly funneled through a nonprofit organization that supports military families, offering short-term relief to service members who were at risk of missing paychecks.
Timothy Mellon is a major political donor who has recently surged into the top ranks of political contributors. He has given hundreds of millions of dollars to support former President Trump and the Republican Party, including a historic $50 million donation to a Trump super PAC last year. He has also been a significant financial backer of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., supporting his presidential campaign and his anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense.
While the donation provided a temporary public relations victory, it has raised legal and ethical questions. The Anti-Deficiency Act generally prohibits federal agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress. Furthermore, the anonymity of the donation troubled some lawmakers, with a representative for Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) warning that it raises “troubling questions” about whether troops could be “bought and paid for by foreign powers.” Despite the large sum, the $130 million is a fraction of the estimated $6.5 billion needed to cover military pay and benefits every two weeks.
