As the government shutdown dragged into its fourth week, frustration spread nationwide.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers faced missed paychecks, and essential services began to falter. But a shocking move from an anonymous benefactor briefly changed the story.

The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.

Many military families, living paycheck to paycheck, are feeling intense financial pressure, anxious about whether their next paycheck will arrive.

Local food assistance programs, including pantries near military bases, are reporting a sharp increase in demand as families struggle to make ends meet, according to Military Times.

A small ray of hope and relief arrived at the end of October when President Donald Trump announced that an anonymous “patriot” had stepped in with a $130 million donation to cover military pay during the shutdown.

“A great American citizen”

Trump praised the contribution as “an extraordinary act of generosity” but remained vague about the donor’s identity.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One before departing for his Asia Trip, he described the donor as “a great American citizen” and “a substantial man,” adding:

“He doesn’t want publicity. He prefers that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”

“He’s obviously a very substantial man, and he contributed $130 million for the military in order to make up any different so he wanted to see the military get paid,” Trump continued. “So did I. And he’s a wonderful man.”

But it didn’t take that much time before someone figured out who the mysterious donor was. The New York Times identified the donor as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire heir from one of America’s wealthiest families.

Mellon, a 83-year-old banking heir and grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, has quietly become a major political player in recent years.

He has given hundreds of millions to support former President Trump and the Republican Party, including a $50 million donation to a Trump super PAC last year, one of the largest ever disclosed. He also supports Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., donating millions to his presidential campaign and anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense.

According to campaign finance researcher Anna Massoglia, Timothy Mellon was once a relatively unknown donor, but his contributions have surged dramatically:

”Timothy Mellon was a relatively unknown political donor but his contributions have surged in recent years, putting him in the very top ranks of political contributors.”

Neither Mellon nor the White House has officially confirmed the donation to the military.

Funneled through a nonprofit

The funds, reportedly funneled through a nonprofit supporting military families, offered short-term relief to service members.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits. We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops,” said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.

While the donation made headlines, legal experts raised concerns about the Pentagon’s ability to accept private funds. The Anti-Deficiency Act bars federal agencies from spending money not approved by Congress, leading some to question whether this “generosity” could create legal complications.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., voiced concerns about the donation’s anonymity. A representative said:

“Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers.”

Despite the sizable contribution, $130 million barely scratches the surface of the $6.5 billion needed every two weeks to cover military pay and benefits. By rough estimate, that equals about $100 per service member, leaving Congress to grapple with the rest amid ongoing gridlock.

Although the White House managed to secure funds to pay troops on October 15 and again on November 1, officials — including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — warn that service members may not see their November 15 paycheck unless the shutdown comes to an end.

“We were able to pay the military employees from excess funds at the Pentagon, middle of this month. I think we’ll be able to pay them beginning in November. But by November 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid,” Bessent said on CBS on Oct. 26.