The Pentagon stated it obtained an nameless $130 million donation to pay the navy through the US authorities shutdown, a transfer the administration may not legally be capable of perform.
“On October 23, 2025, the Division of Struggle accepted an nameless donation of $130 million below its common present acceptance authority,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated Friday in a press release. “The donation was made on the situation that or not it’s used to offset the price of Service members’ salaries and advantages.”
The donation is President Donald Trump’s newest maneuver to grab better management of presidency capabilities amid the shutdown, which has stretched into its fourth week. The White Home has moved to fireplace federal staff and slash funding for initiatives in areas ruled by Democrats, which have drawn authorized challenges.
Making an attempt to pay US navy troops through the shutdown might show to be politically well-liked — and in addition spotlight congressional Democrats’ refusal to approve a authorities spending invoice. However federal regulation usually forbids people from making earmarked presents to the federal government.
Whereas people could make unconditional presents to the US Treasury, they’re credited to the final fund or used to pay down the nationwide debt. The cash can’t be spent with no congressional appropriation — and it’s that lack of an appropriation that has shut down the federal government.
Trump on Thursday stated that an unnamed “buddy” of his wrote a verify for $130 million to pay for shortfalls throughout the navy. Federal civilian staff and navy service members usually aren’t paid through the shutdown. Nonetheless, Trump earlier this month directed the Pentagon to search out any accessible funds to pay the troops.
There are exceptions to federal restrictions on the federal government accepting donations. The Nationwide Park Service is one, permitting Trump to simply accept donations to fund his renovations to the White Home, which sits in a nationwide park. And below legal guidelines courting to 1956, the navy additionally has restricted authority to simply accept personal donations — however just for two particular functions: to help navy colleges, hospitals, libraries, museums, cemeteries and comparable establishments, and to assist service members and civilian staff who’re wounded or killed within the line of responsibility, and their households.
The $130 million complete would solely cowl a small portion of the payroll for the nation’s roughly 1.3 million active-duty navy members.
