We Now Know Mystery Donor Who Gave $130 Million To Pay Troops During ‘Schumer Shutdown’

The U.S. Department of War has confirmed that it has accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million to help keep U.S. troops paid during the government shutdown.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a close friend of his, whom he described as “patriotic,” gave the money to keep our military paid during what he’s called the “Schumer Shutdown,” referencing Senate Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

The anonymous donor is reportedly Timothy Mellon, a billionaire railroad magnate and heir to the prominent banking and political Mellon family. Mellon has not confirmed the donation came from him.

During the 2024 campaign, Mellon donated $100 million to groups backing Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as Health and Human Services secretary in the Trump administration.

The government has been shut down since October 1, after Democrats refused a funding resolution without certain health care subsidies. Republicans have charged that Democrats want illegal immigrants to receive health care paid for by the American people.

“He called us the other day and said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown … because I love the military and I love the country,'” Trump said.

The Department of War has since confirmed the donation. “On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. “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.”

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Trump made clear last week that he would find a way to pay troops despite the ongoing shutdown. He signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repurpose unused funds to cover salaries in the interim.

“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump posted to Truth Social last week, as highlighted by The Daily Wire.

“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” he continued. “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”

“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” the president added.

The funds donated by the anonymous individual might need to first receive authorization by Congress, Fox News notes.