$130 Million Donated to US Defense
While the US government was temporarily shut down, unexpected financial assistance was provided to the country's defense system through an anonymous source. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to the Politico publication, the Pentagon confirmed receiving a donation amounting to 130 million dollars. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the funds were provided not by the government but by a private individual.
The money is primarily directed towards paying the salaries of military personnel. The identity of the donor has not been disclosed, and no information was given about whether the donor is a US citizen.
According to existing laws, donations exceeding 10,000 dollars made for the benefit of military personnel or their families must be reviewed by the ethics commission. This review ensures that the donor's interests do not influence government decisions.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged knowing about this donation in his statement but did not reveal the donor's name. He emphasized that the money was given out of a "sense of friendship and sympathy."
Additionally, Trump once again blamed the Democratic Party for the government shutdown. According to information, the provided funds do not fully cover the salaries of all military personnel.
In the first half of October, the Pentagon spent approximately 6.5 billion dollars on salaries. Next week, Congress is expected to review new legislative proposals on this matter.
Since October 1, several government agencies have ceased operations due to the failure to approve a budget for the new fiscal year in the US. This situation is referred to as a "shutdown" in the country.
The disagreements in the government mainly arose over funding the medical insurance program for the poor — "Obamacare." Democrats defend this program, while Republicans support its reduction.
Due to the shutdown, several ministries have implemented layoffs. According to the Department of Justice, more than 4,200 government employees have been dismissed, including those in finance, healthcare, and education sectors.
At the same time, Trump ordered the Secretary of Defense to ensure the payment of military salaries despite the government shutdown. The last shutdown occurred at the end of 2018.
The 35-day budget impasse then was recorded as the longest shutdown in US history. Its cause was Trump's demand for significant funding to build a wall on the Mexican border.
The most interesting aspect of this current case is the Pentagon's acceptance of an anonymous donation. Such a large amount of private financial aid to the government system is being recorded for the first time in the US, raising not only political but also legal questions.
Experts believe that this situation could be a serious signal regarding the country's financial stability. The trend of private individuals providing financial assistance to government systems may become the basis for new political debates in the future.
