The news provoked immediate reactions among legislators, due to the unusual nature of the case and the possibility that the measure violates the Antideficiency Law.
He Pentagon reported this Friday that it received a donation of US$130 million carried out by an anonymous benefactor with the aim of finance the pay and benefits of military personnel while the government shutdown continues USAstarted on October 1st.
The spokesperson for the Department of Defense, Sean Parnellexplained that the contribution was made under the so-called “general gift acceptance authority”a mechanism that allows the Pentagon to receive external funds in exceptional situations. The only condition imposed by the donor was that the money be used exclusively to cover the salaries of the troops until Congress approves a new budget.
Controversy over possible violation of budgetary rules
The news caused immediate reactions on social networks and among legislators, due to the unusual nature of the case and the possibility that the measure violates the Antideficiency Lawwhich prohibits federal agencies from spending resources beyond approved allocations or accepting voluntary services.
The US government is currently facing the second longest closure in its historyand thousands of public employees have already stopped receiving their salaries. In this context, the president donald trump signed an executive order enabling the Pentagon to redirect research and development funds to temporarily sustain payments to the armed forces, although Congress warned that this is a partial solution.
According to official figures, the country has 1.3 million military personnel on active dutyand the budget requested by the Trump Administration for this year is around u$s600,000 million only in salaries. The Department of Defense has not yet clarified how the donated money will be distributed or if it will be enough to cover all outstanding assets.
Meanwhile, The government shutdown will continue at least until next weekleaving a good part of federal personnel without income since October 10.
Source: Ambito
