- Social media users are advocating for stimulus checks, funded by budget cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- DOGE has implemented substantial cuts across several federal agencies, leading to layoffs and furloughs.
- Elon Musk, head of DOGE, responded on X to the request, stating he ‘will check with the president.’
Calls for stimulus checks funded by cuts at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have gone viral among some Americans.
James Fishback, CEO of the Azoria investment firm, urged Musk on X to distribute a stimulus check based on the claimed savings. Others echoed this sentiment on TikTok, with one video claiming taxpayers could receive up to $8,000, which has garnered over 5 million views since its release on Sunday.
Musk, despite the Trump administration’s assertion that he does not officially work for DOGE, replied to Fishback, saying, “Will check with the President.”
Though DOGE claims to have saved the government $55 billion, evidence provided on its website mostly comprises contracts canceled at agencies that have been targeted by the Trump administration.
Here’s what you should know about stimulus payments and DOGE.
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Is there a DOGE stimulus check?
Currently, there is no sign that DOGE plans to issue a stimulus check due to cost-reduction initiatives.
Did people receive stimulus checks in 2025?
Yes, some individuals did receive them.
The IRS distributed stimulus checks to taxpayers who had not claimed a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. This credit was aimed at those who had not received prior stimulus payments.
The stimulus announcement in December, under the Biden administration, was made after IRS data indicated many eligible taxpayers who filed a 2021 tax return failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Stimulus payments were disbursed in December and January, with eligible individuals receiving up to $1,400 as indicated by the IRS.
Can someone still claim the $1,400 stimulus check?
Taxpayers who did not file a 2021 tax return might still qualify for the stimulus check if they file their return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by April 15, as per the IRS.
What has DOGE cut?
The quasi-government agency has made severe budget cuts across various federal entities, leading to thousands of workers being dismissed or placed on administrative leave.
Cutback areas have included the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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