Trump’s ‘Friend’ Gives Pentagon $130 Million To Help Pay Troops Amid Government Shutdown

Defense officials have accepted an anonymous $130 million donation from a wealthy donor to help cover military salaries during the ongoing government shutdown. Officials have not disclosed further details about the donor or the unusual gift.President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the money was offered by a “friend” out of patriotism. While the Defense Department has been using unused research funds to ensure troops received their mid-month paycheck, the status of the next direct deposit remains uncertain.“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to CNN. He added that the donation was accepted under the department’s general gift acceptance authority and is specifically earmarked to cover service members’ salaries and benefits. Questions on the donor’s citizenship, whether American or foreign, remain unanswered. Related News | What Makes USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group A Key Player In US Anti-Narcotics Operations?White House officials noted that covering military pay for the first half of October cost roughly $6.5 billion. Department of Defense rules require that donations over $10,000 benefiting troops undergo ethics review to ensure the donor has no conflicting interests, with additional scrutiny for non-US donors.Military pay during the shutdown has fueled friction on Capitol Hill. House Republican leaders have refused to reconvene to pass legislation guaranteeing pay, aiming to pressure Senate Democrats to approve a short-term funding extension. Meanwhile, a Senate Republican proposal to cover troops and non-furloughed federal employees was blocked by Democrats, who raised concerns it excluded furloughed workers.Troops are scheduled to receive their next paycheck on October 30, and Congress may consider additional military pay measures in the coming week.