Emily Brooks and The Hill
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (The Hill) — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of utilizing funds saved through the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative for sending checks to individuals in the U.S.
This position contrasts with views shared by President Trump and tech magnate and Trump advisor Elon Musk, who have suggested this idea recently.
When asked about the concept by Newsmax host Rob Finnerty during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) event on Thursday, Johnson was not particularly enthusiastic.
“Look, politically that might work well for us, as it would provide a check for everyone,” Johnson stated.
“However, if we consider our fundamental principles, fiscal responsibility is what we stand for as conservatives. That’s our identity. With a $36 trillion federal debt and a significant deficit, we really should focus on reducing our debt,” Johnson explained.
The audience responded with applause.
On Wednesday, Trump mentioned that the administration was contemplating applying DOGE savings towards sending checks to Americans as well as for debt reduction.
“We’re even considering a new proposal to allocate 20 percent of DOGE savings to American citizens while 20 percent would go towards paying down the debt, as the figures are remarkable,” Trump shared during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute event in Miami.
This idea seems to have originated from an Arizona CEO who proposed the notion of a “DOGE Dividend” on the social platform X. Musk responded the following day, stating: “Will check with the President.”
