Headline Roundup • October 25th, 2025
As Government Shutdown Continues, Pentagon Accepts Anonymous $130 Million Gift to Help Pay Military
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Amid a continuing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Defense said it has accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million intended to help cover the salaries and benefits of military service members.
The Details: At a White House event Thursday, President Donald Trump said “a friend of mine” had offered to help cover shortfalls in pay and benefits for service members, adding that the donor wanted to remain anonymous. Trump called the wealthy donor a “patriot” for contributing $130 million. According to the Pentagon, the gift represents only a small fraction of the about $6.5 billion the administration said it redirected from military research and development funds a week ago to maintain payroll.
Pentagon Accepts Donation: According to The Associated Press, a Pentagon spokesman said the agency had accepted the donation under what's called the “general gift acceptance authority.”
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”
For Context: With Congress deadlocked over a new budget, the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 has become the second-longest in U.S. history. Lawmakers remain at odds over health care funding and subsidies. Many Republicans argue their Democratic opponents want to fund health care programs for illegal immigrants, while Democrats say the GOP spending plan fails to address the broader health care crisis faced by Americans. Meanwhile, payment for active-duty service members remains a bipartisan concern.
How The Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) emphasized Trump’s quote that the donor acted “because I love the military and I love the country.” The outlet echoed Pentagon gratitude for the assistance “after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.” Conversely, The Associated Press (Lean Left) framed the donation as an unusual and potentially problematic response, quoting one expert who called the move “crazy” and likened it to “picking up your bar tab.”
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Featured Coverage of this Story
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown, raising ethical questions after President Donald Trump had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls.
While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks. The Trump administration told Congress last week that it used $6.5 billion to make payroll. The next payday is coming ...
Scott Olson/Getty Images via Fox News
The Department of War received an anonymous donation of $130 million Thursday to go toward paying U.S. troops during the government shutdown — but Congress may need to get involved for it to actually get in the hands of service members due to legal limitations.
"On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to Fox News Digital Friday. "The donation was made on the condition that it be used ...
