Overview
- The Defense Department said it accepted the donation under its general gift-acceptance authority with the condition that it be used for service members’ pay and benefits.
- President Donald Trump described the benefactor as “a friend” who wants no recognition, while the Pentagon labeled the contribution anonymous and declined to say whether it will brief Congress on donor details or fund distribution.
- Appropriators in both parties sought information on the arrangement, and Sen. Dick Durbin’s office formally asked how the gift and recent fund shifts comport with the Antideficiency Act.
- Sen. Chris Coons and budget experts warned of legal and influence risks, noting concerns about potential foreign ties and the precedent of privately financing military compensation during a shutdown.
- The White House also authorized the Pentagon by executive order to redirect research and development funds as a temporary stopgap, yet the $130 million covers only a small fraction of pay needs for roughly 1.3 million active-duty personnel.