- House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed reservations about the idea of DOGE stimulus checks, preferring to address national debt instead.
- James Fishback, CEO of an investment firm, suggested DOGE-based stimulus checks earlier in the week.
- President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday his support for stimulus checks funded with a portion of DOGE’s claimed savings.
House Speaker Mike Johnson does not seem to support stimulus checks linked to DOGE initiatives.
During the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, the Louisiana Republican showed skepticism when the audience applauded the idea of stimulus checks from the Department of Government Efficiency, known as “DOGE,” on Thursday.
“From a political standpoint, it would be fantastic for us, because everyone gets a check,” Johnson told the audience. “But if you consider our foundational principles, fiscal responsibility is essential for us as conservatives. That’s our identity, and presently, we confront a $36 trillion federal debt. We need to address our deficit. It’s time to pay down the credit card, correct?”
President Donald Trump showed interest in the stimulus checks earlier this week. During the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit on Wednesday, he stated that the federal government was contemplating the use of 20% of DOGE’s savings to fund stimulus checks, with another 20% designated to reduce the national debt, which stood at $36.2 trillion as of Friday.
Trump’s endorsement came on the same day that USA TODAY reported that misleading information about DOGE’s savings had been published on its website, including a nearly $8 billion discrepancy.
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DOGE’s reported contracts, grants, and real estate licenses totaled around $16.5 billion, significantly less than the $55 billion it claimed to have saved. This figure was artificially inflated due to the inclusion of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract that DOGE claimed was worth $8 billion, while its actual value was only $8 million.
For context, here’s what you need to know about the proposed DOGE stimulus checks.
How did the discussions regarding a DOGE stimulus check originate?
The idea of sending stimulus checks to Americans using claimed savings from the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency emerged earlier this week.
Investment firm CEO James Fishback announced on Tuesday that he had advocated for a “DOGE Dividend”—stimulus checks funded by 20% of DOGE’s savings.
In response to Fishback’s announcement, Musk commented, “I will consult with the President.”
Is a DOGE stimulus check forthcoming?
The federal government has yet to verify any plans for a DOGE-related stimulus check.
What is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency, officially known as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is a federal advisory agency dedicated to identifying spending and regulatory reductions. Trump signed an executive order to establish DOGE on his first day in office.
Additionally, Trump appointed Musk as a “special government employee,” as confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Musk serves the government with or without payment for a limited duration and possesses a government email and office.
DOGE has implemented significant budget cuts across various federal departments, 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, particularly from Democratic lawmakers and government oversight organizations that argue Musk is violating privacy and security regulations.
On Monday, a lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing the Department of Treasury of breaching privacy laws by providing Musk and DOGE access to government payment systems.
“We are shocked and concerned that the Trump Administration has permitted so-called DOGE personnel to infringe upon the law and access sensitive personal and financial information of millions of senior citizens,” said Richard Fiesta, director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, in a statement.
Contributors: Maria Francis and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a trending national reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Have a story idea? Reach out via email at [email protected].
