While Congress Fumbled, This Billionaire Patriot Paid the Troops Out of Pocket [WATCH]

Billionaire businessman Timothy Mellon, heir to one of America’s most prominent banking families, has been identified as the individual who donated $130 million to ensure U.S. troops were paid during the federal government shutdown.

The New York Times reported Saturday that Mellon, 83, was the anonymous benefactor referenced earlier in the week by President Donald Trump.

Timothy Mellon did what the Democrats refused

Patriot 🇺🇸 https://t.co/ABRAdiHQP6

— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) October 25, 2025

The President had described the contributor as “a friend” who “loves the military and loves the country” but had requested not to be named.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Asia on Friday night, President Trump called the donor’s wish for anonymity “pretty unusual in the world I come from,” adding that the individual was “a great gentleman” and “a great patriot.”

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The White House did not comment on the report and directed inquiries to the Department of War and the Treasury Department. Both agencies declined immediate comment.

Mellon is the grandson of Andrew Mellon, who served as U.S. Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932 and was a key figure in shaping American economic policy during the early 20th century.

The Mellon family, which built its wealth through banking, oil, and steel, is estimated to be worth about $14 billion, according to Forbes.

A reclusive figure, Timothy Mellon resides in Wyoming and rarely speaks publicly. His political contributions have drawn attention in recent years.

One day after President Trump’s 2024 conviction in a New York fraud case, Mellon donated $50 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again.

While the Pentagon formally accepted Mellon’s $130 million contribution, questions remain about whether the funds can legally be distributed.

The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress during a government shutdown.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

The Senate on Thursday voted down a proposal that would have ensured pay for active-duty military personnel during the shutdown, rejecting the measure 54-45.

President Trump has been vocal about ensuring troops are paid despite the budget stalemate.

“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,” the President posted on his Truth Social account earlier this month.

“That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our @SecWar to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th…. The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, & then we can work together to address Healthcare…” – President Trump pic.twitter.com/mX2ZFHidIT

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 11, 2025

The Pentagon subsequently said it identified available resources, including unused research and development funds, to cover immediate payroll needs.

Legal experts, however, have questioned whether reallocating those funds without congressional approval could violate the Constitution’s spending clause, which reserves the power of appropriations to Congress.

Mellon’s involvement adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate over executive authority and fiscal control during a government shutdown.

His unprecedented donation underscores growing private sector efforts to fill gaps left by congressional gridlock, even as legal and procedural barriers continue to complicate their implementation.

Andrew Mellon’s legacy continues to influence the family’s public image.

Known both for his business empire and his philanthropy, the elder Mellon’s donations helped establish major cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and Carnegie Mellon University.

His grandson’s recent gift, though unconventional in form, reflects a similar impulse toward civic contribution — albeit one entangled in the political and legal complexities of a modern government shutdown.