The creator of the “DOGE dividend check” has expressed confidence that $5,000 payments for American taxpayers are achievable, contingent upon reductions to Social Security and Medicaid.
James Fishback, CEO of the Azoria investment firm, shared with Dr. Phil on Wednesday: “I truly believe we can reach that goal, but it hinges on DOGE, Elon, the president, and everyday taxpayers stepping up. If they report waste, fraud, or abuse, DOGE will eliminate it, and then we can claim a portion of those savings.”
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Why It Matters
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is focused on minimizing the administrative costs of the government, having already reduced funding from various federal agencies in an effort to streamline operations.
Fishback has proposed utilizing the savings from these budget cuts to deliver $5,000 checks to American citizens. Supported by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, this plan aims to redistribute some of the government’s savings to the public, although it has not been officially approved yet.
Projected future savings could reach $2 trillion, making the distribution of $5,000 checks a plausible outcome.
What To Know
Fishback highlighted potential savings from cuts to the Pentagon, Social Security, and Medicaid as primary funding sources for the proposed checks.
“We haven’t targeted the Pentagon yet… And as Elon mentioned earlier this week, there is waste and fraud in Social Security, as well as in Medicare and Medicaid,” he stated.
“If you’re not entitled to those benefits—if you are an illegal alien in this country, or if you are receiving federal benefits that you do not qualify for—that’s fraudulent. We must eliminate that. This isn’t about wanting to do this; it’s about necessity. We must safeguard these programs for those who legitimately rely on them, while also protecting the taxpayers.”
In a prior interview with Newsweek, Fishback indicated that legislation to implement the bill would be “coming soon,” clarifying that taxpaying non-citizens would not be eligible for the payments.
“The more the government conserves, the larger the DOGE check ultimately becomes,” he remarked.
During his appearance on Dr. Phil, Fishback disclosed that DOGE has saved enough in just 50 days to potentially provide taxpayers with $670 as of the previous day.
He has urged Americans to report any instances of waste or fraud to enhance these savings.
Fishback reiterated to Newsweek on March 18th that DOGE “encourages” American taxpayers to bring attention to what he describes as waste, fraud, and abuse.
He also noted that anyone filing a federal income tax return and paying federal taxes would qualify for the checks. The proposed payment would be issued per household, rather than to each individual taxpayer, and this would include those receiving Social Security benefits, as per Fishback’s statements.
It’s important to note that Social Security benefits are not automatically exempt from taxation. The IRS states that if a taxpayer’s combined income—including Social Security, wages, and other sources—surpasses specific thresholds, up to 85 percent of their Social Security benefits might be subject to federal income tax. Consequently, some Social Security beneficiaries do pay federal taxes and could potentially be eligible for the proposed DOGE payment under Fishback’s criteria. However, Fishback’s comments suggest that eligibility is based on filing and paying federal taxes, not solely on receiving Social Security benefits.
A Quinnipiac University poll indicates that a majority of voters perceive DOGE’s actions as detrimental to the nation.
The poll results show that 54 percent of voters believe Musk and DOGE are causing harm, while 40 percent feel they are providing assistance.
A significant partisan divide is present, with 82 percent of Republicans suggesting they are beneficial, whereas 94 percent of Democrats assert they are causing damage.
What People Are Saying
Fishback detailed the eligibility criteria to Dr. Phil: “They would need to meet one of three conditions: they must have paid federal income tax in the most recent year, or they must currently be receiving Social Security benefits, or they are veterans who served the country and are now receiving veterans’ benefits.”
Fishback explained to Newsweek: “The first misunderstanding is that this is a stimulus check. It isn’t meant to stimulate anything. Its purpose is to reimburse taxpayers for the egregious waste, fraud, and abuse that has come to light in recent months. So the first misconception is that it’s for stimulation purposes. There’s no need for stimulation; President Trump is already revitalizing the U.S. economy, which will, in turn, stimulate domestic manufacturing, job creation, and growth.”
What Happens Next
Musk’s DOGE will persist in its efforts to prune the federal government as it seeks to implement further reductions in government spending in line with Trump’s agenda.
The earliest recipients might see the checks is by the summer of 2026, provided Congress passes the necessary legislation.
