Could President Trump actually issue DOGE stimulus checks? The notion of offering $5,000 refunds from a continued effort to reduce federal spending has surfaced.
However, don’t expect that bonus just yet. This is due to the fact that DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, must ideally achieve its $2 trillion savings target for the payouts to be viable—an accomplishment that even Elon Musk, DOGE’s unofficial leader, indicated might not be realistic back in January.
Despite this, President Trump mentioned on Wednesday that the administration is contemplating allocating 20% of “DOGE savings” back to citizens, following Musk’s indication of discussing the idea with Trump the previous day.
Even if the concept of $5,000 stimulus checks progresses, Congressional approval would be essential for funds to be disbursed to taxpayers. Here’s what we know thus far.
Where did the idea for $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks originate?
“Anti-woke” investor James Fishback, CEO and co-founder of Azoria Partners, introduced the concept on X on Feb. 14, advocating for Musk to support $5,000 checks based on the anticipated $2 trillion in savings from DOGE, proposing the rest be directed to lowering the national debt.
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“American taxpayers are entitled to a ‘DOGE Dividend’: 20% of the money that DOGE saves should be returned to diligent Americans as a tax refund check. After all, it was their money initially,” Fishback tweeted.
“@ElonMusk, let’s make this happen! This is a way to restore faith in our government,” he urged.
In a discussion about the possible dividend on CNN last Saturday, Fishback stated that the prospect of receiving a check for up to $5,000 would “motivate Americans to report waste, fraud, and abuse in their communities. Why? Because the more DOGE saves, the larger their check will be.”
How would $5,000 stimulus checks be distributed? Who qualifies?
In 2020, Congress enacted—aided by President Trump—a $2 trillion bipartisan stimulus initiative to combat the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic. This included payments of $1,200 to eligible individuals and $2,400 for most married couples filing jointly, plus an additional $500 for each qualifying child under 17.
Those stimulus funds were sent to individuals who had filed tax returns in the previous two years or received Social Security or veterans’ benefits.
The initiative also encompassed funding for small business loans and grants, alongside increased weekly unemployment payments.
Elon Musk’s DOGE: GOP lawmakers face backlash over budget cuts.
What has President Trump remarked about DOGE dividend checks?
On Wednesday, Trump addressed the subject on two occasions. “We are contemplating giving 20% of the DOGE savings to Americans and 20% towards alleviating the debt,” Trump stated at the Saudi-funded FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami Beach.
Later, on Air Force One, when asked about the suggestion, Trump remarked, “I love it. A 20% dividend, if you will, for the savings achieved by tackling waste, fraud, and other issues,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Trump also noted that this dividend would serve as “an incentive for taxpayers to report where we can save money.”
What has Elon Musk said regarding the potential $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks?
After Fishback first proposed the DOGE dividend concept on X, Musk replied, “Will consult with the President.”
What has House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed about DOGE dividend checks?
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appeared skeptical of the DOGE dividend suggestion while at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday.
He expressed, “Politically, that could be great for us, given that everyone would receive a check.” However, he continued, “Reflecting on our core principles, fiscal responsibility is key as conservatives. We’re faced with a $36 trillion federal debt. It’s crucial we reduce our deficit instead.”
What do economists think about $5,000 stimulus checks?
Most economists who have commented so far argue against the idea of a DOGE dividend.
“It would amplify the deficit, lead to increased consumer spending immediately, and could induce inflation, which is counterproductive given our current situation,” stated Judge Glock, research director at the Manhattan Institute, in an interview with Scripps News.
He suggested the funds would be better utilized in addressing the $1 trillion annual budget deficit and taxes.
Another downside of stimulus checks would be inflation. Jay Zagorsky, a professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, noted, “If DOGE starts distributing substantial checks to a large number of individuals, it will significantly exacerbate inflation, especially since Trump is imposing tariffs which increase the costs of goods and services.”
Conversely, Kevin Hassett, Trump’s director of the National Economic Council, argued during a press briefing on Thursday that the checks would not contribute to inflation as the government is already planning to utilize the allocated funds.
“If we save government funds and return it to the public, and they expend it, we break even,” he asserted, according to financial news outlet Investopedia. “However, if they save a significant share, it might actually reduce inflation.”
The debate could be theoretical as DOGE is unlikely to reach its ambitious goal of $2 trillion in savings, according to Zagorsky. “I’m not convinced the savings are available,” he remarked.
Recently, Musk estimated that DOGE has already provided $55 billion in savings for taxpayers, but an error characterized the termination of an $8 million contract as an $8 billion saving, leading to an actual savings estimate of approximately $16.5 billion.
DOGE will not generate sufficient savings to facilitate checks “of a significant size” to create inflation, as stated by Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. She described the notion of a DOGE dividend as “absurd.”
“The funds simply aren’t there, and certainly not enough to provide a meaningful contribution to taxpayers,” said Kamarck, who collaborated with Vice President Al Gore to minimize government inefficiency during the Clinton administration. “He just makes statements,” she remarked, referring to Musk.
Contributors: Fernando Cervantes Jr., Greta Cross, Joey Garrison, Jessica Guynn, Nick Penzenstadler, and James Powel.
Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky, and X: mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider.
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