The individual behind the initiative to distribute $5,000 “DOGE dividend” stimulus checks to American taxpayers has revised the eligibility criteria.
James Fishback recently elaborated on the requirements, stating that anyone who files a federal income tax return and pays federal income taxes would be eligible.
“If you submit a federal income tax return—if you pay federal income taxes, in other words, if you have been employed—you would qualify for a DOGE dividend check. This payment would benefit both that individual and their household,” Fishback explained to Steve Ram during Ram’s podcast.
Why It Matters
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to enhance federal government operations and reduce expenditures. A recent proposal suggests reallocating savings to deliver lump-sum payments to taxpaying households throughout the United States, although this plan has yet to be confirmed.
James Fishback, the CEO of the Azoria investment firm, proposed that $5,000 checks be sent directly to American taxpayers. This initiative, which has support from President Donald Trump and DOGE leader Elon Musk, aims to provide taxpayers with a share of government savings.
Supporters believe it could restore public trust in government, while opponents caution that it may lead to economic issues such as inflation and increased national debt.
Pool via AP
What To Know
The proposal is not yet an official government policy, although Trump has shown interest in it.
Nevertheless, the DOGE initiative faced a potential hurdle, with recent fiscal reports indicating that the anticipated savings from Musk’s department have not yet been realized.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has reported a 5 percent increase in the federal deficit for February, attributed to a 7 percent increase in spending compared to the same month last year.
The DOGE stimulus plan suggests allocating 20 percent of the department’s savings to taxpayers and another 20 percent to decrease the national debt. It estimates DOGE could save $2 trillion in 18 months, enabling $400 billion to be distributed among around 79 million taxpayers, equating to $5,000 each.
However, the latest CBO data raises doubts regarding the feasibility of achieving these savings. In the first five months of Fiscal Year 2025, the federal government borrowed $1.1 trillion, with $308 billion borrowed in February alone.
This borrowing trend raises concerns about the effectiveness of DOGE’s cost-reduction strategies and the likelihood of securing the projected savings necessary to finance the stimulus checks.
What People Are Saying
James Fishback commented to Steve Ram on Ram’s podcast: “Consider this—if you’re a working-age individual currently unemployed, knowing there’s a possibility of a DOGE dividend check with your name on it next summer can serve as a strong incentive to get back into the workforce.”
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “Despite the potential savings from recent cuts, stimulus checks are an extremely costly initiative for a government already burdened with debt and currently facing no emergency situation equivalent to a pandemic.”
“I anticipate that lawmakers will explore alternatives such as tax reductions and loosening restrictions on certain government benefits as ways to divert attention from stimulus checks being the primary method of aiding Americans.”
Joseph Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital, shared with Newsweek: “While I understand the rationale behind the idea, distributing $5,000 checks may not be the most prudent decision. Just because we’ve identified savings doesn’t mean we should simply distribute the money.”
“There’s an old saying: You can give a person a fish, or you can teach them to fish. If we’re wise, we should reinvest that money in initiatives that generate long-term benefits, such as innovation, infrastructure, and businesses that foster wealth creation across all tiers of society.”
What Happens Next
It remains uncertain whether Fishback’s proposal will evolve into official government policy or when checks might begin to arrive in Americans’ hands.
