Trump says private donor gave $160m to cover military pay during shutdown
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National Guard members and visitors walking near the White House in Washington, weeks into the ongoing US government shutdown, on Oct 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Donald Trump announced a private donor gave $130 million to cover military salary shortfalls due to the government shutdown.
- Trump praised the unnamed donor as a "patriot" and friend for their contribution during the "Democrat shutdown".
- The donation aims to alleviate pressure as a budget impasse threatens military paychecks, despite Trump's prior order.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Oct 23 that a wealthy private donor has provided US$130 million (S$168 million) to the US government to cover potential shortfalls in military salaries caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
Speaking at a White House event, Mr Trump praised the wealthy donor as a patriot and a “friend of mine,” but declined to name him.
“He called us the other day and said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown… because I love the military and I love the country’,” Mr Trump said.
The administration faces mounting pressure to ensure active-duty service members receive their pay cheques despite the budget impasse. Mr Trump previously signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repurpose unused research funds to cover salaries.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has called the military funding shift a temporary fix and warned that troops could soon miss their pay cheques if Congress fails to pass a budget resolution.
The US federal government has been partially shut down since Oct 1 as lawmakers in Congress remain deadlocked over a new budget, with disputes over healthcare subsidies at the centre of the impasse.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS
