Conor here: The recent report of a $130 million donation to the Pentagon raises some eyebrows, seemingly serving as yet another step toward privatization. While this sum may seem substantial, it only equates to about $100 per soldier, suggesting it could be a test case to gauge the reactions of other wealthy individuals with ambitious agendas. The message is clear:
And they try so hard to make rich capitalists look evil! This is literally what rich capitalists are for in God’s economy! https://t.co/vDoqeFME1Y
— Garrett (@McGarrett50H) October 24, 2025
Currently, the wealthy elite still require collaboration with Congress members, the President, and think tanks to push their agenda. Imagine how much simpler it would be to pay established rates for color revolutions, airstrikes, and invasions. In many respects, that might legitimize what is already in play:
- The primary role of the US military is to promote American capitalism abroad.
- Billionaires appear to advise Trump on troop deployments in “their” cities.
- Foreign billionaires often influence significant aspects of US foreign policy.
- Congress has largely been sidelined in decisions regarding military and intelligence matters.
Although this “gift” may clearly violate legal norms, especially with judges facing severe backlash, the true implications remain ambiguous. Recently, the identity of the donor has come to light:
🚨 BREAKING:
The anonymous benefactor who donated $130 million for U.S. military funding during the federal shutdown is reportedly Timothy Mellon — the same billionaire who contributed $53 million to construct Texas’s private border wall.
He has financed border enforcement, Trump’s Super PACs, and more…
— Amber Speaks Up (@AmberWoods100) October 25, 2025
The grandson of Andrew Mellon. Time is a haunted merry-go-round.
As we yearn for what’s next, my greatest fear is that we’ll be duped into doubling down on corrupt billionaires and monopolists under the guise of a “return to normal.” It will be the biggest repeat con in history. pic.twitter.com/Qe9ratawVu
— Lee Hepner (@LeeHepner) October 25, 2025
By Jessica Corbett, a staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams.
As the Pentagon prepares to allocate a $130 million donation from an anonymous “supporter” of President Donald Trump towards military salaries, the leading federation of unions in the United States is demanding that federal lawmakers “cease playing political games” and compensate all workers impacted by the government shutdown.
“With the government shutdown reaching its fourth week, 1.4 million federal workers and at least 1 million federal contractors are missing paychecks and will soon miss another if Congress fails to act,” the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) stated.
The shutdown commenced in early October, as Republicans—holding majorities in both chambers of Congress—advocated for their funding plans while Democrats aimed to reverse recent Medicaid cuts and extend lapsing Affordable Care Act subsidies to ensure millions don’t lose their healthcare.
Republicans successfully pushed their funding proposal through the US House of Representatives, but their slim majority in the Senate necessitates some Democratic backing to pass most bills. The AFL-CIO issued a letter from their director of advocacy, Jody Calemine, to all senators on Thursday.
Calemine urged their support for Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) True Shutdown Fairness Act, designed to provide backpay and continued compensation for federal workers, contractors, and military personnel during the shutdown, as well as Sen. Gary Peters’ (D-Mich.) Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, which would ensure an immediate backpay installment.
“These individuals—military, civilian, and in the private sector—serve the American populace daily in numerous ways,” Calemine commented. “Many federal employees, alongside military personnel, have been required to perform their duties without compensation. Others are unable to work due to furloughs. While paychecks have ceased, bills continue. Rent, mortgages, and groceries must still be covered.”
“Regrettably, their financial struggles are being manipulated as political leverage. The Trump administration has intensified their hardship and anxiety, enforcing unlawful, permanent staff reductions while blaming the temporary shutdown and threatening to deny federal workers backpay, violating the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act,” Calemine added. “Workers and their families should not be treated as pawns.”
This letter was sent prior to the Senate voting on both proposed bills, which Republicans eventually blocked on Thursday. All Democrats, except for Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock from Georgia, also opposed a bill introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) which would have paid military members and select federal workers not on furlough.
Working families are facing a dual crisis: hunger, and their health insurance costs doubling, tripling or worse.
Working people can’t afford inaction.
Fund the government.
Fix the health care crisis.
Put working people first.https://t.co/QFoJAe9ky4 https://t.co/sBMdh8TOpG pic.twitter.com/Dh2FrMQlm1— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) October 24, 2025
On the same day, Trump informed reporters at the White House that “a friend of mine” who preferred to remain unnamed had made a financial contribution for military salaries, stating, “That’s what I consider a patriot.”
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, confirmed in a Friday statement that the Department of Defense had accepted the donation “under its general gift acceptance authority.”
“The donation is earmarked to offset the expenses related to service members’ salaries and benefits,” he elaborated. “We appreciate this donor’s support following the Democrats’ decision to withhold pay from troops.”
According to the Associated Press:
While the $130 million is significant, it only covers a fraction of the billions required for military paychecks. Trump stated that the donation was intended to address any potential “shortfall.”
However, the regulations surrounding such a donation remain murky.
“This is absurd,” remarked Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the federal government. “It’s as if we’re treating military compensation like someone is covering a drink tab.”
CNN reported that critics have raised alarms that accepting the $130 million may conflict with the Pentagon’s gift acceptance authority and the Antideficiency Act. Congressional appropriators from both parties have indicated they are seeking more details from the administration regarding the specifics of this donation but have yet to receive adequate explanations.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the ranking member of the defense appropriations subcommittee, released a statement asserting that “utilizing anonymous donations to finance our military brings up concerning issues about whether our troops could be essentially bought and paid for by foreign entities.”
Sharing CNN’s reporting on social media, the watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington stated: “It should be evident, but the American government ought to be funded by the American people, not anonymous megadonors linked to the president. This is not how democracy should function—this raises significant legal and ethical concerns.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, the House clerk read a message from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declaring October 27-November 2 as a district work period. In response on social media, Congressman Jason Crow (D-Colo.) remarked: “Republicans have once more extended their vacation. Trump is headed to Asia while the government remains shutdown. This is a total failure of leadership.”
