Billionaire businessman Timothy Mellon, heir to the historic Mellon banking family, has been identified as the “mystery man” behind a massive private donation intended to pay U.S. troops during what has been dubbed the “Schumer Shutdown.” According to The New York Times, Mellon, 83, quietly gave $130 million after President Donald Trump announced earlier in the week that an anonymous “friend” who “loves the military and loves the country” had stepped forward to help cover military salaries amid the congressional budget deadlock. Trump, speaking while en route to Asia, described the donor as “a great gentleman” and “a great patriot,” adding that the request for anonymity was unusual but deeply appreciated. The White House declined to comment on the identity of the donor, referring questions to the Department of War and the Treasury Department, both of which offered no immediate response.
Mellon, who leads a secluded life in Wyoming, is part of one of America’s wealthiest families, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at around $14 billion. His grandfather, Andrew Mellon, served as Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932 and played a pivotal role in shaping the economic policies of the 1920s. The elder Mellon’s legacy also includes the founding of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and substantial contributions to what became Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Timothy Mellon himself has long been an outspoken conservative and a strong supporter of Donald Trump. In 2024, he donated $50 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. just a day after Trump’s fraud conviction in New York, making headlines for his loyalty and financial influence in Republican politics.
This latest donation, however, raises complex legal and ethical questions. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the Department of War accepted Mellon’s $130 million contribution, stipulating that it would be used “to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits.” Yet, under the Antideficiency Act, federal agencies are prohibited from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress, even if the funds come from private donors. This restriction could render Mellon’s donation unusable until Congress passes a new budget or the shutdown ends. Parnell said the issue is under legal review, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the situation.
Earlier this month, Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “use all available funds to get our troops paid” despite the ongoing government shutdown. The Pentagon responded by temporarily reallocating “leftover research and development funds” to meet payroll obligations. However, the donation’s legality and practicality remain uncertain, since using private money to pay federal salaries has no modern precedent. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 54–45 against a Republican-backed measure to fund military pay separately from the rest of the government, with Democrats arguing that partial funding would reduce pressure to end the shutdown completely.
The political response to Mellon’s donation has been sharply divided. Trump and his allies have praised the act as an extraordinary gesture of patriotism and private generosity in a moment of political gridlock. “Troops should never be used as leverage in a political fight,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, reiterating his stance that service members must be paid regardless of partisan disputes. Critics, however, warn that accepting private money to fund the military undermines constitutional limits on executive authority and blurs the line between public service and private influence.
As Washington scrambles to interpret the legal implications of Mellon’s unprecedented contribution, the episode has already sparked intense debate about the role of private wealth in government operations. For now, Mellon’s gesture stands as both a symbol of support for America’s troops and a test of the boundaries of presidential power. A senior defense official described the moment as “uncharted territory,” noting that it is the first time in modern history a private citizen has attempted to cover military payroll during a government shutdown — an act that could redefine the relationship between patriotism, power, and the purse.
