FROM 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.
[I]t’s unclear how the Trump administration can legally use the funds to pay troops without Congress’ involvement.
While the government may accept general donations that go toward general funds available to the government, Congress is the one who must appropriate that money to go toward federal employees’ salaries, according to Romina Boccia, the director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington.
According to Boccia, without congressional intervention, the military may only accept private donations to support institutions, such as military schools, libraries, and museums, or to support service members or civilian employees who are wounded or killed in the line of duty.
“The department is welcome to acknowledge this donor’s intent, but that does not change the legal restrictions on Congress needing to appropriate funds to pay military salaries,” Boccia said,
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has announced the donation, saying in a statement to Fox Newsl, “On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its 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. We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”
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