The wealthy donor who gave $130 million to the Pentagon during the government shutdown has reportedly been identified.

Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of President Trump, is the anonymous private donor who gave $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay troops during the shutdown, according to two people familiar with the matter.

While the Constitution makes it clear how President Donald Trump and Congress get paid during a government shutdown, without a Senate vote to reopen the government until at least Tuesday, Oct. 13, the military was set to go without pay on Oct. 15.

Military retirees and disabled veterans will receive 2.8% increases to their monthly paychecks for 2026, thanks to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA, tied to inflation. The 2.8% raise for 2026 is up from 2.5 % in 2025 after a string of raises as high as 8.7% in 2023.

Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-sponsored bill Thursday to pay active-duty members of the military and other essential federal employees who have been required to work during the government

The next scheduled payday for military members is quickly approaching, but if the government shutdown continues, it remains uncertain whether they will receive a paycheck. Active-duty military service members are paid twice monthly,