Anonymous Billionaire Donor Revealed: Timothy Mellon Behind $130 Million Gift to Pay Troops During Shutdown

Strategic Insights -

Reclusive billionaire Timothy Mellon, a major financial backer of President Trump, has been identified as the anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay troops during the shutdown. This revelation comes after President Trump announced the donation on Thursday night, but declined to name the donor, calling him a "patriot" and a friend.

Key Takeaways:

  • Timothy Mellon, a grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, is a longtime backer of President Trump and has given tens of millions of dollars to groups supporting the president's campaign.
  • The $130 million donation is equivalent to about $100 per service member, which is a mere fraction of the $600 billion in total military compensation requested in the Trump administration's 2025 budget.
  • The donation appears to be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money in excess of congressional appropriations or from accepting voluntary services.
  • Mr. Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate, is also a significant supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran for president last year and has ties to the anti-vaccination group Children's Health Defense.
  • The Pentagon accepted the donation under the "general gift acceptance authority," but it remains unclear how far the funds will go toward covering the salaries of the more than 1.3 million active-duty military personnel.
  • Mr. Mellon has a history of making large donations to Republican causes, including a $50 million contribution to a super PAC supporting President Trump's campaign last year.

Statistics:

  • $130 million: The amount donated by Timothy Mellon to help pay troops during the shutdown.
  • $600 billion: The total military compensation requested in the Trump administration's 2025 budget.
  • $100: The equivalent gift per service member.
  • 1.3 million: The number of active-duty military personnel.
  • 670,000: The number of federal workers who have been furloughed.
  • 730,000: The number of federal workers who are working without pay.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Anonymous Billionaire Donor Identified as Timothy Mellon"
  • Congressional Budget Office, 2025 Budget Request
  • Bipartisan Policy Center, Tally of federal workers affected by the shutdown.