Is the DOGE Stimulus Check Legit? Here’s the Latest on the Proposal

Americans are still trying to determine if discussions about DOGE stimulus payments will actually lead to receiving a check.

Despite taxpayer backing, there remains minimal definitive information regarding the proposed dividends.

Originally proposed in February, this idea suggested that part of the savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency through budget reductions and workforce cuts be returned to taxpayers. President Donald Trump has voiced his support for the dividend initiative.

James Fishback, the CEO who proposed the idea, has indicated that the proposal could reach lawmakers soon, which is a crucial step since the federal government cannot disburse a stimulus check without Congressional approval.

Here’s an update regarding DOGE stimulus checks, including eligibility criteria and potential timing for distributing the dividends.

Latest Updates on 2025 DOGE Stimulus Checks

There has been limited information regarding the viability of DOGE stimulus checks or the proposal submitted to Congress by Fishback.

On March 26, Fishback shared a screenshot on X, previously known as Twitter, displaying an email from the Trump campaign asking recipients their thoughts on DOGE dividends. The email asked, “Should Trump return DOGE savings to American citizens through checks?”

Elon Musk and members of the DOGE team appeared on FOX News to elaborate on the department’s objectives and cost-cutting strategies. During the interview with Bret Baier, Musk discussed the department’s communication and relationships with Congress.

“We are doing our best to keep Congress informed. The law stipulates that funds must be used appropriately,” Musk stated. “It’s not against Congress’s interests to minimize waste and fraud… We’ve garnered strong support from Republican lawmakers, and sometimes from Democrats as well.”

Qualifications and Requirements for DOGE Stimulus Checks

Fishback’s proposal aims to distribute dividends exclusively to households that exceed a designated income threshold, in contrast to pandemic-era checks that were implemented broadly.

“Many low-income households received transfer payments amounting to 25% to 30% of their annual income,” Fishback commented on the pandemic stimulus checks, adding, “This will solely benefit households that contribute more in federal income taxes than they receive, which implies a lower spending tendency and a higher saving inclination for a payment like the DOGE dividend.”

The proposed refund would be limited to net-income taxpayers—those who pay more taxes than they reclaim—while lower-income Americans would be excluded from receiving the return, based on news reports. According to the Pew Research Center, most Americans with an adjusted gross income below $40,000 effectively pay no federal income tax.

Timing for DOGE Stimulus Check Disbursement

The DOGE stimulus checks derived from savings have not yet received formal approval from Congress.

Until Congress passes a bill authorizing the dividends, which Fishback has indicated is forthcoming, there will be no checks issued, and no specific timeline for payments has been established.

Total Savings Achieved by DOGE

DOGE claims to have saved $130 billion through a mix of asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud elimination, grant terminations, interest savings, regulatory changes, and workforce reductions, as stated on the department’s website.

The site suggests this translates to approximately $807 per taxpayer, based on “an estimate of 161 million individual federal taxpayers.” Current IRS data indicates that 153.8 million tax returns were filed in 2022.