Anonymous Trump ‘friend’ donates US$130 million to pay troops during shutdown

South China Morning PostCenterEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergOctober 24, 2025 at 08:04 PM

AI Summary

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The Pentagon received an anonymous donation of $130 million to pay military personnel during the ongoing US government shutdown. The funds were donated on the condition they be used for service members' salaries and benefits. This move comes amid a fourth-week-long shutdown and has sparked legal concerns as federal law typically prohibits individuals from making earmarked gifts to the government. While unconditional donations can go to the general fund or national debt, spending such funds requires congressional approval, which is lacking due to the ongoing impasse causing the shutdown.

Key Topics & Entities

Pentagon ×260% US ×370% Donald Trump ×480%

Keywords

government shutdown 90% anonymous donation 80% military pay 70% legal challenges 60% congressional democrats 50% trump administration 50% national debt 40% general fund 40%