- House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the notion of DOGE-funded stimulus checks, expressing a preference to address national debt instead.
- CEO James Fishback of the investment firm suggested the idea of stimulus checks linked to DOGE transactions earlier this week.
- On Wednesday, President Donald Trump indicated his support for stimulus checks funded by 20% of the supposed savings from DOGE.
House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to oppose stimulus checks triggered by DOGE initiatives.
At the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, the Louisiana Republican expressed skepticism about the idea of stimulus checks connected to the Department of Government Efficiency, “DOGE,” despite the audience’s enthusiastic response.
“Politically, that would be beneficial for us, since everyone would receive a check,” Johnson conveyed to the attendees. “Yet, when we reflect on our fundamental principles of fiscal responsibility, that’s our identity as conservatives. We grapple with a $36 trillion federal debt. We should focus on paying down our liabilities, right?”
President Donald Trump showed support for the idea of stimulus checks earlier this week. During the Saudi-backed FII PRIORITY Summit on Wednesday, he mentioned that the federal government was contemplating utilizing 20% of the savings from DOGE to implement stimulus checks and another 20% to mitigate national debt, which presently sits at $36.2 trillion.
Trump’s endorsement coincided with a report from USA TODAY revealing discrepancies on the DOGE website regarding claimed savings, including an $8 billion error.
Need a break? Try out the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The DOGE’s documented contracts, grants, and property licenses amounted to approximately $16.5 billion, falling drastically short of the $55 billion claimed in savings. This figure was inflated due to the inclusion of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract, which DOGE stated was valued at $8 billion, but was actually worth just $8 million.
For further context, here’s what you need to know about the proposed DOGE stimulus checks.
What prompted discussions of a DOGE stimulus check?
The idea of issuing stimulus checks derived from the purported savings of the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk gained traction earlier this week.
On Tuesday, James Fishback, CEO of the Azoria investment firm, announced on X that he had advocated for a “DOGE Dividend”—stimulus checks generated with 20% of the savings attributed to DOGE.
In reply to Fishback’s communications, Musk stated, “I’ll consult with the President.”
Is a DOGE stimulus check on the horizon?
No confirmation has been made by the federal government regarding the issuance of a DOGE-related stimulus check.
What exactly is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency, also recognized as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is a federal advisory department established to identify strategies for reducing expenditures and regulations. Trump inaugurated DOGE with an executive order on his first day in office.
Subsequently, Trump appointed Musk as a “special government employee,” a position confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Musk is permitted to work for the government, with or without pay, for a designated period, and possesses a government email and office.
DOGE has implemented significant cost reductions across various federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Since its inception, DOGE has faced opposition, notably from Democratic legislators and governmental oversight groups who allege that Musk is infringing upon privacy and security regulations.
On Monday, a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., alleged that the Department of Treasury violated privacy laws by granting Musk and DOGE access to governmental payment systems.
“We are appalled and concerned that the Trump Administration has permitted so-called DOGE personnel to breach the law and access sensitive personal and financial information pertaining to millions of older Americans,” Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, declared in a press release.
Contributors: Maria Francis and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Have a story idea? Reach out via email at [email protected].
