WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are exploring a proposal to issue taxpayer checks derived from savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The concept of “DOGE dividends” was communicated to Musk through X, and he mentioned he would consult with the President regarding this initiative.
During a conference in Miami this week, Trump appeared to express support for the plan, proposing that 20% of the savings from DOGE be returned to American citizens, with an additional 20% set aside to help reduce the national debt.
“There’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt because the numbers are incredible, Elon,” the President stated. “So many billions of dollars, billions, hundreds of billions, and we’re thinking about giving 20% back to the American citizens and 20% down to pay back debt and pay down debt.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller elaborated on the proposal during the White House Press Briefing on Thursday.
“Well this is all going to be worked on through the reconciliation process with Congress that’s currently in motion,” Miller mentioned.
The prospective amount returned to taxpayers is contingent on the actual savings realized by DOGE. A figure of $5,000 was proposed based on $2 trillion in cuts. The department has claimed to save $55 billion so far, although this figure is already under scrutiny.
In the meantime, the federal workforce is facing substantial reductions. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly instructed the military to brace for an 8% budget cut each year over the next five years. The military is projected to have an $850 billion budget by 2025, meaning these cuts could result in a multibillion-dollar decrease. Furthermore, the IRS is expected to let go of around 6,000 employees, primarily recent hires. The agency has brought on more than 20,000 employees since 2020, and this layoff will revert its workforce to 2023 levels.
The downsizing measures have sparked debate among both political parties. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, voiced her concerns regarding the impact on her state.
“I’m very concerned about the impact on the state of Maine, on everything from our national parks to biomedical research. So this is a big problem,” Senator Collins stated to reporters.
Senator Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, criticized DOGE’s methodology.
“Well DOGE really stands for the Department of Gutting Everything. From healthcare to education to environmental programs. And it’s absolutely something that people are going to need to stand up and fight against,” Senator Markey remarked.
New Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that the administration’s focus would be on addressing the deficit when questioned about the possibility of taxpayer checks.
