Could $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks happen? Here’s what we know.
Proposals for $5,000 stimulus checks from the Trump administration’s initiative to cut federal spending have been discussed, but will they actually occur?
The U.S. may soon confront a government shutdown, presenting yet another hurdle for the proposed $5,000 DOGE dividend checks for citizens.
DOGE, short for Department of Government Efficiency, aims to reduce federal expenditure by trillions of dollars, including job cuts and reductions in funding. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, this agency, alongside President Trump, is contemplating issuing taxpayers a 20% share of the DOGE savings as $5,000 stimulus checks.
So, are DOGE checks really on the horizon? Here’s an update on the potential timeline.
When can we expect DOGE checks? It’s still a concept for now
Don’t anticipate a $5,000 DOGE dividend check appearing in your bank account anytime soon. This proposal is still under consideration by the Trump administration, having initially been brought to Musk’s attention by investment executive James Fishback back in February.
“With $2 trillion in DOGE savings and 78 million tax-paying households, this translates to a $5,000 refund per household, with the surplus aimed at reducing the national debt,” Fishback noted on X.
Any stimulus payment would need Congressional approval. Fishback believes that a bill may be introduced soon following discussions with lawmakers, but figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson express skepticism, suggesting that any cost savings should instead go towards servicing the national debt.
Currently, no official timeline for DOGE payments exists, so we will have to wait to see if and when a DOGE check might arrive.
DOGE needs to achieve a hefty $2 trillion savings before issuing checks to taxpayers
In order to provide $5,000 stimulus checks to Americans, DOGE must first meet its ambitious $2 trillion savings target, making the distribution financially feasible, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch. During a January interview with political strategist Mark Penn, Musk indicated that DOGE might target a $1 trillion reduction instead, according to USA TODAY.
“We will aim for $2 trillion; that is the best-case scenario,” he said. “However, it’s prudent to have a buffer. Aiming for $2 trillion gives us a solid chance of achieving at least $1 trillion.”
DOGE claims to have already saved $105 billion.
Who is eligible for DOGE dividend checks?
According to Fishback’s plan, DOGE would only distribute payments to households exceeding a specific income threshold and who are net-income taxpayers (those whose tax payments surpass their refunds), with lower-income families not being eligible for the rebate, as reported by USA TODAY.
