Pentagon accepts $130 million donation to help pay the military during the government shutdown

"The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown, raising ethical questions after President Donald Trump had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls. While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks. The Trump administration told Congress last week that it used $6.5 billion to make payroll."

"That's what I call a patriot, Trump said during a White House event Thursday when he disclosed the payment from the donor. The president declined to name the person, whom he called a friend of mine, saying the man didn't want the recognition. The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday under its general gift acceptance authority. The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members' salaries and benefits,"

The Pentagon confirmed acceptance of an anonymous $130 million donation intended to help pay military members during the government shutdown. President Donald Trump said a friend offered the gift and declined to name the donor, saying the man did not want recognition. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the donation must be used to offset service members' salaries and benefits and said the Pentagon was grateful for the donor's assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay. The gift is large but small compared with the billions needed; the administration previously used $6.5 billion and shifted $8 billion from R&D to cover payroll. With the next payday imminent, it is unclear whether additional reallocations or donations will be required, prompting ethical and practical questions about sustaining military compensation during an extended shutdown.

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