Trump mega-Donor Timothy Mellon Personally Funded Troop Pay During Shutdown Threat
WASHINGTON – Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and major donor to Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns, privately funded payroll for U.S. troops during the recent threat of a government shutdown in early 2024, providing $130 million to cover soldier paychecks. The revelation, confirmed by sources familiar with the arrangement, underscores Mellon’s growing influence in republican circles and raises questions about the role of private wealth in maintaining essential government functions.
The unusual intervention came as a potential shutdown loomed over Congress due to disagreements on federal spending, threatening to delay or halt pay for active-duty military personnel. While past shutdowns have ultimately resulted in back pay for service members, the immediate disruption to financial security prompted Mellon to step in, directly depositing funds to ensure troops received their salaries on time. This act preempted potential hardship for thousands of military families and averted a potential morale crisis within the armed forces.
mellon, a retired railroad magnate residing primarily in Wyoming, has dramatically increased his political spending in recent years. He contributed a modest $32,000 during trump’s initial 2016 campaign, escalating to $10 million in 2016 and $60 million in 2020. In a rare 2020 interview with Bloomberg, Mellon stated he believed Trump had fulfilled his campaign promises. Beyond supporting Trump, Mellon has also directed significant funds to conservative causes, including a $53 million donation in 2021 to Texas Governor Greg Abbott‘s border wall fund.
The source of Mellon’s wealth traces back to his industrialist grandfather, who amassed a fortune in banking and early investments before serving as Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932. The Mellon family remains one of the wealthiest in the United States, with a combined net worth of $14 billion as of 2024. Timothy Mellon’s individual wealth is estimated between $700 million and $4 billion.
The incident highlights a growing trend of wealthy individuals exerting financial influence on government operations, particularly during periods of political gridlock. While mellon’s intervention ensured troops were paid, it also raises concerns about the potential for private interests to fill gaps left by governmental dysfunction and the implications for public policy. The funds were provided outside of traditional government channels, prompting scrutiny from ethics watchdogs and calls for greater transparency in campaign finance and lobbying activities.
