David M. Rubenstein, the billionaire Bethesda philanthropist, will donate $7.5?million to help fix the shuttered, earthquake-damaged Washington Monument, government officials plan to announce Thursday.

The gift once again confirmed Rubenstein’s status as a generous repeat benefactor for Washington’s endangered national icons.

It comes a month after he donated $4.5?million to the National Zoo’s cash-strapped giant panda program and seven months after a $13.5?million gift to the National Archives.

The 555-foot tall monument was extensively damaged during the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the area Aug. 23, and it’s been closed ever since. The quake shook the monument violently, especially near the top, severely cracking and chipping its stone blocks. The obelisk’s elevator was also damaged but has since been partially repaired. The National Park Service has said it does not know how long the monument will be closed.

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