An anonymous donor closely tied to President Donald Trump has contributed $130 million to the Department of War to support military pay amid the ongoing government shutdown, as reported by Fox News.
The unprecedented donation, announced Thursday, has prompted questions about whether the administration can legally use the funds without congressional approval.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the donation in a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday. “On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority,” Parnell said.
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits. We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”
The Pentagon said it received an anonymous $130 million donation to pay U.S. troops during the government shutdown, but legal experts say the move may violate federal law.
Spokesman Sean Parnell said the money was accepted under the Defense Department’s gift authority and… pic.twitter.com/h8uwucGAJ7
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) October 24, 2025
The offer comes as the government shutdown continues, halting regular paychecks for thousands of active-duty personnel. However, budget experts say the funds cannot be immediately disbursed without congressional action.
Romina Boccia, director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, explained that while the government can accept donations, it cannot spend the money for salaries unless Congress appropriates it.
“The department is welcome to acknowledge this donor’s intent but that does not change the legal restrictions on Congress needing to appropriate funds to pay military salaries,” Boccia told Fox News Digital in an email Friday.
She added that under current law, the Department of War can only accept private gifts for specific purposes — such as military museums, schools, or aid to service members wounded or killed in action — but not for ongoing salary payments.
“The only way to get around this restriction is if Congress decided to recategorize troop pay as mandatory or direct spending,” she said.
Mandatory spending, which includes programs like Social Security and Medicare, does not require annual approval from Congress. The Constitution, through Article I, grants Congress sole authority to appropriate federal funds.
President Trump addressed the donation on Thursday, revealing that a “friend” offered to help offset the impact of the Democrat-led shutdown on U.S. troops.
“He called us the other day and said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to contribute personally, because I love the military and I love the country,’” Trump said.
Trump declined to identify the donor, stating that he would only do so with permission. “I don’t think he wants any recognition,” he added.
The White House referred further questions to the Department of War and the Treasury Department. The Treasury did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an order allowing the Pentagon to redirect unused research and development funds to temporarily pay active-duty troops. Republican lawmakers have warned that the measure is short-term and that a permanent resolution requires congressional approval.
With no spending bill yet in place, the $130 million gift underscores the financial strain on the military — and the growing frustration with Congress’s inaction as the shutdown drags on.
