The concept of distributing stimulus checks through government savings might appear to be a whimsical notion—but for James Fishback, the 30-year-old CEO of an investment firm, the “DOGE Dividend” initiative stems from an ambitious vision.
Fishback informed Newsweek that his idea for a stimulus check, funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was inspired by a dream.
“It came to me in a dream,” he recounted. “I woke up and reached out to our Head of Research at Azoria, and we developed the proposal during a two-hour lunch at Capital Grille.”
Why It Matters
The stimulus check initiative seeks to leverage efficiencies identified by Elon Musk’s DOGE. In theory, it would return a portion of the savings—estimated at $5,000 per taxable household—to U.S. citizens.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
What To Know
As the CEO of Azoria, Fishback envisions the “DOGE Dividend” as a comprehensive strategy that not only reimburses taxpayers for government inefficiencies but also encourages public reporting of waste, potentially enhancing federal savings and the resulting dividends.
The proposal recommends dedicating 20 percent of DOGE’s total savings to finance these payments, which, according to Fishback’s documentation, seeks to “rebuild public trust between taxpayers and their government.”
DOGE claims to have generated about $55 billion in savings so far, though this figure has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Reports from ABC News and Bloomberg verify approximately $8.6 billion in savings to date.
Although both Musk and President Donald Trump have shown interest—Trump noting at a recent summit that the proposal was “under consideration”—the DOGE check initiative has encountered skepticism.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson expressed concerns on Thursday regarding fiscal responsibility against the backdrop of the $36 trillion federal debt in the U.S.
“Politically, that would be great for us; you can send everyone a check,” Johnson noted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “However, if we adhere to our core principles, fiscal responsibility is essential to conservative values—it’s our identity.”
Read more: DOGE Stimulus Check Creator Defends Plan Against Inflation Concerns
What People Are Saying
James Fishback, CEO of Azoria and the creator of the DOGE Dividend proposal, conveyed to Newsweek: “We aimed to create a framework for the President to (1) reimburse taxpayers for the significant waste, fraud, and misuse of their funds that DOGE has tackled, and (2) encourage them to report waste, fraud, and abuse in their communities, allowing DOGE to save more and subsequently provide a larger DOGE Dividend check to hardworking Americans.”
Elon Musk stated at CPAC on Thursday: “It’s funds that have been redirected from entities that pose a threat to our nation and from groups that are against us, channeled back to you. That’s incredible… the rewards of our victories.”
“I spoke with the President, and he’s supportive of the concept… it looks like we are moving forward with it.”
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson added at CPAC Thursday: “… We are grappling with a $36 trillion federal debt. We have a serious deficit. I believe we need to tackle that debt. That’s our priority.”
Kimberly Clausing, an economist and professor at UCLA School of Law, previously remarked to Newsweek: “At this point, this dividend remains a mere fantasy, as they still need to demonstrate significant budgetary savings. Their suggested government cutbacks could disrupt crucial services in areas like forest management, public safety, and tax filing, yet these reductions won’t greatly affect the budget deficit, primarily because personnel costs comprise a small fraction of the U.S. federal budget.”
What Happens Next
As discussions gather momentum, the “DOGE Dividend” stands at a critical juncture. Given that the plan requires congressional approval, its future remains uncertain.
