As the government shutdown entered its fourth week, frustration and uncertainty grew across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers missed paychecks, and essential services began to falter. Amid the turmoil, President Donald Trump announced that an anonymous “patriot” had donated $130 million to help cover military pay.

The New York Times later identified the donor as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire from one of America’s wealthiest families, though neither the White House nor Mellon confirmed the report. The donation, reportedly funneled through a nonprofit supporting military families, provided short-term relief to ensure service members wouldn’t miss paychecks.

Trump praised it as an extraordinary act of generosity, but legal experts questioned whether accepting the funds under the Pentagon’s “general gift acceptance authority” might violate the Anti-Deficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money not approved by Congress.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., raised concerns over the donation’s anonymity, warning that such gifts could open the door to foreign influence over U.S. troops. “Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions,” his office said in a statement.

Campaign finance expert Anna Massoglia told CBS News that Timothy Mellon, once a relatively unknown donor, had recently surged into the top ranks of U.S. political contributors. His growing influence has drawn attention from both watchdogs and lawmakers.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the donation was designated to offset the cost of service members’ pay and benefits, adding, “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

Despite the gesture, the $130 million covers only a fraction of the $6.5 billion needed every two weeks for military payroll.

With Congress still gridlocked, the future of military funding — and the shutdown itself — remains uncertain.