A Secret Gift for the Troops

A mystery donor stepped up to help military personnel during the government shutdown. The Pentagon got a huge surprise when someone gave them $130 million to cover the salaries and benefits of soldiers. This donation came just as the government was shutting down, and many workers, including troops, were facing pay delays. The Pentagon accepted the money under a special rule that lets them take gifts. The donor wanted to make sure soldiers got paid, even though politicians couldn't agree on how to fund the government. The Pentagon said they were thankful for the help, especially since some politicians had refused to pay the troops. President Trump talked about the donation at the White House. He said the donor was a patriot who loved the military and wanted to fill the gap left by the shutdown. The president didn't reveal the donor's name but said they had sent a big check to help out. However, $130 million isn't a lot when you think about how much the government usually spends on troops. Military pay and benefits cost about $6. 5 billion every two weeks. So, while the donation is generous, it's just a small part of what the troops need. Meanwhile, politicians in the Senate tried but failed to pass a bill to pay soldiers and other essential workers. Democrats had a different plan to pay all federal workers affected by the shutdown, but that also didn't pass. So, for now, the mystery donor's gift is a big help, but it's not enough to fix the problem.