‘Just getting started’: Trump speech on DOGE, budget and border
President Donald Trump outlined his vision for the next four years during his address before a joint session of Congress.
The idea of a potential Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) check is generating buzz, especially as it could mean $5,000 for everyone.
Trump initially introduced this idea in late February, suggesting it was based on a proposal from investment firm CEO James Fishback.
“We’re looking into allocating 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens, and another 20% towards reducing the national debt,” Trump mentioned during the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit held in Miami Beach last month.
This announcement coincided with a report by USA TODAY revealing that DOGE’s website contained misleading information, including a staggering nearly $8 billion error regarding its claimed savings.
Curious about how a new stimulus check might materialize? Here’s what you need to know:
Is there a DOGE stimulus check?
There has yet to be any confirmation that DOGE will issue stimulus payments stemming from cost-saving measures. Any payment from the U.S. government would require Congressional approval, meaning you shouldn’t hold your breath for anything soon.
Did people receive stimulus checks in 2025?
Yes, some people did receive them.
The Internal Revenue Service distributed a stimulus check to taxpayers who had not claimed a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns, which was intended for those who missed out on previous stimulus payments.
This stimulus was announced in December under the Biden administration after IRS data showed many eligible taxpayers who filed a 2021 return did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Payments were issued in December and January, with eligible individuals receiving up to $1,400, as per the IRS.
Can someone still claim the $1,400 stimulus check?
Taxpayers who did not submit a 2021 return may still be eligible for the stimulus check if they file their return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by April 15, according to the IRS.
What is DOGE?
DOGE, short for the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is a program initiated by Trump and headed by “special government employee” Musk.
The primary objective of DOGE is to reduce federal spending, deregulate, and “modernize federal technology and software to enhance governmental efficiency and productivity.”
Who would receive $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks?
While Trump did not provide extensive details about the DOGE dividend’s certainty, Fishback’s proposal described it as a refund meant “only for tax-paying households” and would target households above a specific income level, unlike the broader pandemic-era stimulus payments.
Fishback highlighted that, unlike previous stimulus checks, DOGE payments would not contribute to inflation because they would be “funded solely by DOGE-generated savings, in contrast to COVID stimulus payments that were financed through deficits.”
“Many low-income families effectively received transfer payments that accounted for 25 to 30% of their annual income,” Fishback noted regarding the pandemic stimulus checks, adding, “This initiative would specifically benefit households that contribute to federal income tax, which tend to conserve and save an incoming transfer like the DOGE dividend.”
