With the federal government shut down since October 1, the Defense Department has accepted a $130 million private donation to help cover military pay — an unprecedented move that President Donald Trump touted while legal and ethical questions mounted and pressure grew over lapsed nutrition benefits.
The Pentagon said it accepted an anonymous $130 million gift on October 23 under its general gift acceptance authority, with the money designated to offset service members’ salaries and benefits during the shutdown. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the acceptance and said the department was grateful for the assistance. Fiscal experts noted, however, that using private funds for federal salaries may run afoul of the Anti‑Deficiency Act, which generally bars spending without an appropriation. The Pentagon has also redirected billions in unobligated research funds to meet payroll. (apnews.com)
Trump, who first disclosed the donation and described the benefactor as a patriotic friend, has not publicly named the donor. The New York Times has identified the person as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and prominent GOP financier, though Mellon has not confirmed. Reuters also reported Trump’s announcement of the $130 million gift while noting the shutdown’s roots in a health‑care standoff. (theguardian.com)
The shutdown began on October 1 amid a deadlock over whether to extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that expire at the end of 2025. Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked a short‑term funding bill without action on the subsidies, while Republicans say Congress should reopen the government first and then negotiate health policy. Trump referred to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as “Secretary of War” in an Oct. 11 social media post directing the Pentagon to repurpose available funds to ensure troops were paid on Oct. 15 — a directive officials said would rely on about $8 billion in prior‑year, unobligated research dollars. (washingtonpost.com)
The $130 million contribution would cover only a fraction of compensation costs. The Defense Department’s biweekly payroll is roughly $7.5 billion, budget analysts say, meaning the private gift equates to less than a day of salaries. Even as Trump praised the donation, experts warned that accepting targeted private funds for federal pay could require further congressional action and set an unsettling precedent. (washingtonpost.com)
On Capitol Hill, the House passed a continuing resolution on September 19, but the measure has repeatedly failed to advance in the Senate as the two sides remain at odds over health‑care provisions. Lawmakers have cycled through test votes without a breakthrough, and parts of the House have been out of session during stretches of the standoff. (upi.com)
In Texas, potential cuts to nutrition assistance have become a focal point. Roughly 3.5 million Texans rely on SNAP, and state officials and food banks warn November benefits may not go out if the shutdown continues. Sari Vatske, CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, said about 127,000 Central Texas households who use the food bank also depend on SNAP — roughly $44 million per month — and the nonprofit can’t absorb that gap. “We are seeing people stand in line who have never thought that they would,” she said, urging residents to seek help. (texastribune.org)
At a town hall in Llano, Rep. August Pfluger (R‑Texas) criticized Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and framed the impasse as a political fight, comments he has echoed in other recent public meetings. Pfluger’s district is solidly Republican; Trump carried Texas’s 11th Congressional District by about 72% in the 2024 presidential contest. (brownwoodnews.com)
Republicans have alleged Democrats want to extend subsidies to undocumented immigrants — a claim Democrats reject, noting federal law already bars taxpayer‑funded coverage for people without legal status. The broader dispute over ACA subsidies remains the central sticking point as the shutdown drags on. (cnbc.com)
