A significant donation of $130 million was anonymously given to the U.S. Department of the Army to ensure military personnel are paid during the ongoing government shutdown.
President Donald Trump mentioned on Thursday that “friends” had sent financial support to the government while military pay was suspended, as noted by various reports.
He recounted a conversation where the donor expressed a desire to cover the lost pay due to the Democratic-led shutdown, saying, “I love the military, I love the country, and I want to donate personally.”
Trump decided to keep the donor’s identity confidential unless permission to disclose it was granted, emphasizing the donation was not intended for recognition.
In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell outlined that the Army received the anonymous gift under the General Gift Receipt Authority, specifying it be used for service members’ pay and benefits. He expressed gratitude for the donor’s support following the Democrats’ decision to delay military salaries.
Reports indicated that there may be legal constraints requiring Congressional action to allocate these funds to military families.
Earlier in October, Trump had mentioned that affluent donors were willing to cover military salaries in the event of fund shortages amid the government shutdown.
Additionally, Trump instructed Army Secretary Pete Hegseth to ensure service members receive their salaries during this extended shutdown, as reported mid-October.
The directive to Hegseth included coordination with the Director of Management and Budget to utilize any available funds for the current fiscal year to fulfill planned military pay and benefits for active-duty personnel during the relevant pay period.
Concerns have been raised about the uncertainty facing military families due to the ongoing shutdown, according to reports.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) remarked that this is the second longest shutdown in U.S. history, deeming it “absolutely shameful,” and criticized Democrats for their role in the situation.
