Americans continue to wonder about the possibility of
DOGE stimulus checks
as the recently established governmental organization, informally headed
billionaire Elon Musk
continues on its mission to decrease governmental expenditures by undertaking
large-scale dismissals of government workers
and other cost-saving measures.
The
$5,000 dividend checks
would originate from the purported savings that the
Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE) accumulates as it progresses toward its savings target of $2 trillion.
President Donald Trump
said in February.
Twenty percent of the DOGE savings would be allocated to American citizens, and another twenty percent towards reducing the national debt,
Trump
mentioned during the Saudi-backed event
FII PRIORITY Summit
In Miami Beach during the previous month.
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Congress would eventually decide whether American taxpayers get the $5,000 stimulus payments. Below is an explanation of how this concept originated and what the current status is.
Where did the concept of ‘DOGE dividend’ checks originate from?
James Fishback, the CEO of the investment company Azoria, presented the idea of the “DOGE dividend” in February.
saying on X
that it would involve “sending a tax refund check to each taxpayer, financed entirely from part of the overall savings generated by DOGE.”
In reaction to Fishback’s concept, which he
developed a proposal for
, Musk stated, “I will consult with the President.”
Based on Fishback’s suggestion, the tax rebate checks will be distributed following the end of DOGE in July 2026.
American taxpayers are entitled to a ‘DOGE Dividend’: A fifth of the funds saved thanks to DOGE should be returned to diligent Americans in the form of a tax rebate check. After all, it was their money initially.
Fishback mentioned in an individual tweet
At $2 trillion in DOGE savings and with 78 million taxpaying households, this amounts to a $5,000 rebate for each household, with the leftover funds going towards reducing the national debt.
@ElonMusk, let’s make it happen! This is how we restore faith in our government.
What have legislators commented on regarding DOGE stimulus payments? Republican members of the House express worries over debt and inflation.
Certain legislators have voiced opposition to the stimulus checks, with the Speaker of the House being among them.
Mike Johnson
The Louisiana Republican sighed dismissively as the crowd cheered for the proposal of stimulus checks during the event in 2025.
Conservative Political Action Conference
last month.
“From a political standpoint, this could really benefit us since everyone receives a check,” Johnson told the audience. “However, when considering our fundamental beliefs, maintaining financial discipline is crucial for conservatives. It’s central to who we are. With a national debt of $36 trillion and facing significant budget deficits, I believe we should focus on paying off our debts instead.”
Other legislators, such as Rep. Celeste Maloy from Utah and Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia, have similarly expressed doubts regarding the stimulus checks.
“I believe it’s wiser to allocate our savings toward reducing the deficit; however, this is a discussion that merits consideration,” Maloy stated, according to the source.
NOTUS
My concern is that issuing stimulus checks might lead to inflation, something we’re currently aiming to reduce. If we manage to save funds, we ought to truly preserve them instead.
It largely hinges on the purpose of these savings for me,” Moore said to NOTUS. “If they’re substantial, it could be highly beneficial to return some funds to the nation’s taxpayers. However, a significant portion needs to go toward reducing our debt.
Views on a stimulus payment
The Washington D.C.-based research firm J.L. Partners carried out a ”
DOGE Dividend poll
that polled a nationally representative sample of 1,001 registered voters regarding the stimulus checks from February 24-25.
Most participants indicated their approval for sending out DOGE checks. In total, 46% expressed strong backing for the single $5,000 payments, with an additional 21% showing some level of endorsement. Conversely, only 7% voiced significant opposition to this proposal, as per the survey findings.
The survey indicates that Republican voters (60%) showed greater approval for the checks compared to Democrats (39%) and Independents (39%). The data also reveals that among Republicans aged 18 to 49, as well as working individuals, there was a higher likelihood of supporting the DOGE dividend.
What is the current status regarding the DOGE stimulus checks?
It remains uncertain whether the stimulus checks will occur or not, as
House Republicans’ chilly attitudes
appears to have reduced the concept’s progress.
Given that Trump is in the White House and Republicans hold majorities in both houses of Congress, they typically encounter minimal opposition when advancing policies favored by their party. However, it remains uncertain whether a stimulus check would successfully navigate through this congressional landscape.
During Trump’s final term, stimulus payments were issued following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Congress approved them, and President Trump subsequently signed off on this measure.
A $2 trillion stimulus package with support from both parties
to address the economic struggles caused by pandemic.
The package consisted of $1,200 checks going out to qualifying individuals and $2,400 being sent to most married couples filing jointly, with an extra $500 for each qualifying child under age 17. These stimulus checks were sent to U.S. taxpayers who filed their returns in the two previous years or received Social Security or veterans’ benefits. Funding for small business loans and grants, and additional weekly unemployment insurance payments, were also included during this endeavor.
Contributing: Mike Snider, Maria Francis, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Greta Cross, Joey Garrison, Jessica Guynn, Nick Penzenstadler and James Powel, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:
What happened to DOGE stimulus checks? How the idea originated and where things stand now
