Timothy Mellon Donates $130M to Fund US Troops During Government Shutdown

Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire heir to the Mellon fortune and a major supporter of President Donald Trump, has been revealed as the anonymous donor who contributed $130 million to pay U.S. military salaries during the ongoing federal government shutdown. President Trump praised Mellon as a "patriot" and a "great American," noting Mellon preferred to remain anonymous, which is unusual in politics. The Pentagon accepted the donation under its "general gift acceptance authority," with the condition that it be used solely for service members' salaries and benefits, providing approximately $100 per active-duty service member. Mellon, whose family has an estimated net worth of around $14 billion, has been a significant political donor to Trump, contributing tens of millions to super PACs backing the president. Legal experts have raised concerns that the donation might violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from using funds not authorized by Congress, highlighting tensions over congressional authority during the shutdown. Despite his wealth and political influence, Mellon maintains a low public profile, residing primarily in Wyoming and avoiding media attention.