A mysterious donor has pledged Ksh17 billion (approximately $110 million) to the Pentagon to help cover U.S. military salaries during the ongoing government shutdown — a move that has sparked ethical and political controversy.
U.S. defense officials confirmed receipt of the donation, stating that the funds would be used to pay members of the 1.32 million-strong U.S. armed forces. While they declined to name the donor, former President Donald Trump hinted that the benefactor is a U.S. citizen and “a big supporter” of his administration.
“He put up Ksh17 billion to make sure the military got paid,” Trump told reporters before departing for Asia on Saturday. “He’s a great gentleman, a patriot, and he doesn’t want recognition.”
The U.S. government has now been partially shut down for 25 days, making it one of the longest in American history. The shutdown began after Congress failed to approve a federal funding bill. Last week, the Trump administration temporarily covered military pay by diverting Ksh8 billion ($52 million) from military research funds, but concerns persist about the upcoming October 31 payday.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the donation was accepted under the Department of Defense’s “general gift acceptance authority”, which permits private contributions for official use. The donor reportedly required that the funds be used exclusively to offset the cost of troop salaries and benefits.
However, the donation has raised serious ethical concerns. U.S. law mandates that large gifts exceeding Ksh1.33 million ($8,500) must undergo a review to ensure the donor has no financial or legal ties to the Department of Defense.
Critics have questioned the propriety of the Pentagon accepting such a massive, anonymous donation.
“Using undisclosed funds to pay our troops sets a dangerous precedent,” said Senator Chris Coons, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “It raises the alarming possibility that foreign powers or private interests could effectively buy influence over U.S. defense policy.”
While the donor has remained officially unnamed, The New York Times has identified the benefactor as Timothy Mellon, a billionaire heir to the Mellon family fortune estimated at Ksh2 trillion ($13 billion). Mellon, who has become increasingly active in politics, has previously donated over Ksh6.65 billion ($43 million) to groups supporting Trump.
Pentagon officials emphasized that the donation is unprecedented in both size and purpose. Typically, such contributions are restricted to infrastructure or community projects, like funding military schools, hospitals, or memorials — not salaries.
As the shutdown drags on and government employees continue to work without pay, the Pentagon’s acceptance of private funds underscores both the political gridlock in Washington and the growing unease over the influence of wealthy individuals in national defense matters.
