A reclusive billionaire and prominent financial supporter of Donald Trump has been revealed as the anonymous private donor who contributed $130 million to assist the U.S. government in compensating troops during the ongoing federal shutdown, which has now entered its fourth week. According to a report by the New York Times, the donor is Timothy Mellon, the heir to the industrialist and former treasury secretary Andrew Mellon. Trump has referred to Mellon as a “friend,” a “great American,” and a “patriot,” but has chosen not to disclose his identity until now.
President Trump first announced the controversial donation on Thursday amid rising concerns regarding the financial difficulties impacting the 1.3 million active duty military troops due to the federal shutdown. "He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump stated while traveling to Malaysia. “He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”
The Pentagon confirmed to the New York Times that the donation was accepted under the “general gift acceptance authority.” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, explained that the funds were earmarked to cover service members’ salaries and benefits. However, this significant donation raises concerns about a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending funds in advance or beyond congressional appropriations and accepting voluntary services, barring emergencies affecting human life or property.
Violations of the Antideficiency Act could lead to severe penalties, including administrative actions and criminal sanctions such as suspension, removal from duty, fines, or imprisonment. When asked for clarification, a White House spokesperson redirected inquiries to the Treasury Department, which has yet to provide a comment.
Timothy Mellon, currently 80 years old, has made substantial financial contributions to various political campaigns, including over $165 million to support Trump, Robert F. Kennedy, and other Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle. This makes him the leading donor for outside spending groups, as reported by campaign finance watchdog OpenSecrets. Among his significant contributions, Mellon allocated $125 million to the Super PAC Make America Great Again Inc., which backed Trump, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Additionally, Mellon has financially supported Kennedy’s anti-vaccine initiative, Children’s Health Defense. A retired railroad magnate primarily residing in Wyoming, Mellon has only recently emerged as a significant player in political financing, having donated just $32,000 in the 2016 election cycle when Trump first ran for office. His contributions skyrocketed to $10 million in 2016 and $60 million in 2020, showing his increasing involvement in campaign financing.
In a rare interview with Bloomberg, Mellon expressed his belief that Trump had fulfilled his campaign promises. Additionally, in 2021, the Texas Tribune reported that Mellon had donated $53 million to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s fund aimed at constructing a wall along the state’s border with Mexico. Mellon's wealth and his anti-tax stance can be traced back to his grandfather, who amassed fortune through banking and startup investments before serving as treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932.
