A reclusive Republican billionaire has been identified as the anonymous donor who gave $130m to the US government to help pay troops during the ongoing federal shutdown. Timothy Mellon, heir to the gilded age industrialist and former treasury secretary Andrew Mellon, was named by the New York Times on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the arrangement.
President Donald Trump had previously described the donor as a 'friend', 'great American' and 'patriot', but refused to name him. Trump announced the donation on Thursday amid growing concern about the financial hardship faced by 1.3 million active duty military personnel due to the shutdown.
The Pentagon confirmed the donation was accepted under 'general gift acceptance authority' and was to be used for service members' salaries and benefits. However, the donation may violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from accepting voluntary services except in emergencies involving human life or property.
Mellon, 80, is a retired railroad magnate who has donated over $165m to back Trump and other Republican candidates in the 2024 election cycle, making him the top donor to outside spending groups. He has also given $53m to Texas governor Greg Abbott's border wall fund.
