By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and LISA MASCARO, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an nameless $130 million reward to assist pay members of the navy in the course of the government shutdown, elevating moral questions after President Donald Trump had introduced {that a} pal had supplied the reward to defray any shortfalls.
Whereas giant and weird, the reward quantities to a small contribution towards the billions wanted to cover service member paychecks. The Trump administration informed Congress final week that it used $6.5 billion to make payroll. The subsequent payday is coming throughout the week, and it’s unclear if the administration will once more transfer cash round to make sure the navy doesn’t go with out compensation.
“That’s what I name a patriot,” Trump stated throughout a White Home occasion Thursday when he disclosed the cost from the donor.
The president declined to call the particular person, whom he referred to as “a pal of mine,” saying the person didn’t need the popularity.
The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday “underneath its basic reward acceptance authority.”
“The donation was made on the situation that it’s used to offset the price of Service members’ salaries and advantages,” stated Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon. “We’re grateful for this donor’s help after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”
Congress is at a stalemate over the federal government shutdown, now on observe to turn out to be one of many longest federal closures ever, in its twenty fourth day. Neither Republicans, who’ve management of the Home and Senate, nor Democrats, within the minority, are keen to budge of their broader standoff over health care funding.
Cost for service members is a key concern amongst lawmakers of each events in addition to a degree of political leverage. The Trump administration shifted $8 billion from navy analysis and growth funds to make payroll final week, making certain that navy compensation didn’t lapse.
However it’s unclear if the Trump administration shall be keen — or ready — to shift cash once more subsequent week as tensions rise over the protracted shutdown.
Whereas the $130 million is a hefty sum, it could cowl only a fraction of the billions wanted for navy paychecks. Trump stated the donation was to cowl any “shortfall.”
What’s unclear, nevertheless, is the laws round such a donation.
Pentagon coverage says authorities “should seek the advice of with their acceptable Ethics Official earlier than accepting such a present valued in extra of $10,000 to find out whether or not the donor is concerned in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or different specific issues involving the Division that should be thought-about previous to reward acceptance.”
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