CINCINNATI — You may have come across President Trump or Elon Musk discussing or posting about a DOGE dividend or a potential stimulus check for taxpayers, drawn from the funds the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is expected to discover in the upcoming months.
For many taxpayers, the mention of a stimulus check evokes memories of the pandemic-era checks issued four years ago.
Most of us recall the assistance those checks provided when the government distributed three rounds of $1,400 payments in 2021. Some families received significantly more, depending on their income and the number of children in their household.
Kenji Cummings expressed that such assistance could truly benefit consumers once again.
“If there’s spare money, why not?” he said while loading groceries into his car. “Why not stimulate the economy a bit and put more money back into people’s pockets — especially considering how expensive everything is right now.”
So, could these checks make a return this year? It remains possible. However, it’s wise not to start planning that kitchen remodel just yet.
We’re examining the likelihood of these checks becoming a reality below:
Are DOGE stimulus checks set to happen this year?
What are the odds of this actually happening?
The speculation began when Trump and Musk suggested redistributing 20% of the savings DOGE achieves in federal spending back to taxpayers.
An analysis from USA Today indicates that if DOGE reaches its savings target of $2 trillion, that could translate to as much as a $5,000 dividend for each family. The remaining 80% of DOGE’s cuts would go towards reducing the national debt.
Nonetheless, these checks would require Congressional approval, similar to the situation in 2020 and 2021.
While many would appreciate an extra thousand dollars for upcoming car purchases or home improvements, several shoppers we surveyed were skeptical about the proposal.
Inflation concerns may jeopardize the initiative
Shopper India Pryor recalled that stimulus checks were partially blamed for the inflation surge in recent years, particularly due to supply chain issues.
She expressed her concerns that new checks could increase consumer demand and, consequently, inflation.
“I’m not a fan because the last stimulus checks only led to price increases all around us,” she mentioned.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that he is currently against the DOGE dividend, believing that addressing the national debt is far more urgent, according to a report from The Hill.
Be cautious of stimulus scams
Regardless of what the president and Congress decide, scammers are already attempting to capitalize on the situation, with ads on social media and spam texts about “Trump Stimulus Checks.” These are fraudulent attempts aimed at collecting personal information.
Thus, it’s advisable not to respond to any advertisements, texts, or emails regarding potential DOGE stimulus checks: none are confirmed at this time.
This way, you can avoid wasting your money.
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