The idea of distributing stimulus checks funded by government savings may seem like a figment of imagination—but for James Fishback, the 30-year-old CEO of an investment firm, the “DOGE Dividend” proposal is rooted in a dream.
Fishback shared with Newsweek that his concept for a stimulus check, financed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) savings, originated during a dream.
“It came to me in a dream,” he recounted. “I woke up and contacted our Head of Research at Azoria, and we crafted the proposal over a two-hour lunch at Capital Grille.”
Why It Matters
The stimulus check plan aims to utilize efficiencies identified by Elon Musk’s DOGE. Theoretically, it would return a fraction of the savings—estimated at $5,000 per taxpaying household—to U.S. citizens.
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What To Know
Fishback, as the CEO of Azoria, envisions the “DOGE Dividend” as a multifaceted strategy that not only reimburses taxpayers for government waste but also incentivizes public reporting of inefficiencies, potentially increasing federal savings and the ensuing dividends.
The proposal suggests allocating 20 percent of DOGE’s total savings to fund these payments, which, according to Fishback’s documentation, aims to “restore public trust between taxpayers and their government.”
DOGE claims to have saved an estimated $55 billion thus far, although this figure has been fiercely debated. Reports from ABC News and Bloomberg confirm around $8.6 billion in savings to date.
While both Musk and President Donald Trump have expressed interest—Trump noting at a recent summit that the idea was “under consideration”—the DOGE check proposal has faced skepticism.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns on Thursday regarding fiscal responsibility in light of the U.S.’s $36 trillion federal debt.
“Politically, that would be great for us; you can send everyone a check,” Johnson remarked at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “But if we adhere to our core principles, fiscal responsibility is central to conservative values—it’s our identity.”
Read more: DOGE Stimulus Check Creator Defends Plan Against Inflation Fears
What People Are Saying
James Fishback, CEO of Azoria and the creator of the DOGE Dividend proposal, stated to Newsweek: “We aimed to establish a framework for the President to (1) compensate taxpayers for the egregious waste, fraud, and misuse of their funds that DOGE has addressed, and (2) motivate 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 mentioned at CPAC on Thursday: “It’s funds that have been diverted from entities that are harmful to our nation and from groups that oppose us, redirected to you. That’s fantastic… the rewards of our victories.”
“I spoke with the President, and he’s supportive of the idea… it looks like that’s something we will pursue.”
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson added at CPAC Thursday: “… We are dealing with a $36 trillion federal debt. We have a significant deficit. I believe we need to pay down that credit card. That’s the priority.”
Kimberly Clausing, an economist and professor at UCLA School of Law, previously stated to Newsweek: “At this moment, this dividend remains a mere fantasy, as they have yet to demonstrate substantial budgetary savings. Their proposed government cutbacks could severely disrupt essential government services in areas like forest management, public safety, and tax filing, yet these cuts won’t significantly impact the budget deficit, primarily because personnel expenses are a minimal part of the U.S. federal budget.”
What Happens Next
As discussions intensify, the “DOGE Dividend” finds itself at a pivotal moment. Given that the plan requires approval from Congress, its future remains unclear.
