An unnamed donor is giving the Pentagon $130m (£100m) to pay for US troops during the government shutdown, raising ethics concerns.
U.S. Defense Department officials confirmed the gift, which President Donald Trump said will offset payroll shortfalls for the nation's 1.32 million military members, but declined to identify the donor.
But Trump offered some clues, saying on Saturday that “he's a big supporter of mine” and is a U.S. citizen.
The government shut down more than three weeks ago after lawmakers failed to approve a funding deal. The Trump administration paid troops last week, transferring $8 billion from military research, but it is unclear what will happen on the next payday at the end of the month.
Now on its 25th day, the quarantine could become one of the longest in US history.
“The donation was made under the condition that it be used to offset the cost of military salaries and benefits,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters Friday, adding that the money was authorized under the department's “general authority to accept gifts.”
Trump announced the donation on Thursday but declined to name the donor, saying he “doesn't really want recognition.”
Before leaving for Asia on Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that the donor was a “great gentleman,” a “patron,” a “patriot” and a “wonderful man” who “doesn't want publicity.”
“He prefers not to have his name mentioned, which is quite unusual in the world I come from,” Trump said. “In the world of politics, you want to get your name out there.”
“He put up $130 million to make sure — that's a lot of money — to make sure the military gets paid, and he's a big supporter of mine,” he continued.
The amount of funds is about $100 per soldier.
While the White House was able to reallocate defense funds to pay military personnel last week, it remains to be seen what will happen on the military's next payday, Oct. 31. Congress was unable to pass a bill that would have allowed troops to be paid during the quarantine.
Most government employees have been placed on leave or, in some cases, ordered to work without pay while the quarantine lasts.
According to DoD rules, donations over $10,000 must be reviewed by ethics officials “to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other specific matters relating to the Department that should be considered before accepting the gift.”
Donations from non-US citizens require additional verification.
Although unusual, the Pentagon sometimes accepts gifts from donors, but usually they must be given to fund specific projects, such as a school, hospital, library, museum or cemetery.
Critics have questioned why the US military accepts anonymous funds.
“The use of anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions about whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers,” said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.
