When Will DOGE Disburse Payments? Here’s What Needs to Happen First

• The potential for DOGE stimulus checks, sourced from government savings, is under consideration but has not been authorized.
• President Trump shows support for the concept, proposing a 20% dividend to citizens, pending Congress’s approval for any disbursements.
• The feasibility of DOGE achieving the necessary savings for stimulus checks remains uncertain.

Americans continue to discuss the prospect of a DOGE dividend, reminiscing about the COVID-19-era stimulus payments.

The proposal originated on Twitter, with Elon Musk suggesting he would discuss it with President Donald Trump. Trump has since publicly acknowledged the idea, stating that he and his team are considering using 20% of savings to address debt and distributing another 20% to Americans.

However, do not expect a check from the government just yet. To facilitate a stimulus payment, the department must save $2 trillion, which Elon Musk has indicated might be unattainable.

Here’s what to know about the DOGE stimulus checks, including the most recent updates, responses from lawmakers, and the savings the department claims to have made.

Update on DOGE Stimulus Check for 2025

The discussion surrounding the DOGE stimulus check is still ongoing. The authority to send out checks does not solely rest with Trump; Congress would need to approve the proposal for any stimulus payment from the federal government.

Though Congress officials have weighed in on the idea, reactions vary widely.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, seems opposing to the idea of DOGE-driven stimulus checks. He expressed skepticism, suggesting the funds should instead be used to address national debt.

Other politicians have similarly shown skepticism or outright criticism. Senators Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul, all Republicans, have urged for deficit reduction before any stimulus checks are considered.

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, expressed the need to review the specifics of any proposed plan. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, mentioned support for transferring savings to Americans but would prefer utilizing the child tax credit instead.

It’s yet to be confirmed if DOGE can meet the required savings to facilitate the checks.

What Has President Trump Said About DOGE Dividend Checks?

Trump has publicly addressed the topic on two occasions.

“We’re contemplating distributing 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens while allocating another 20% to further reduce the national debt,” Trump stated during his speech at the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami Beach last week.

That same day, he was queried about the proposal aboard Air Force One.

“I’m all for it. A 20% dividend, in essence, for the savings we make by addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in our system,” Trump noted, as reported by The Associated Press.

Trump also indicated that this dividend could incentivize taxpayers to inform officials about areas where savings could be realized.

When Will DOGE Disburse Checks?

The stimulus checks sourced from DOGE savings have not yet received formal approval from Congress, which is necessary for any stimulus payment. Hence, no checks will be dispatched in the immediate future, and no payment timeline has been established.

Musk has indicated that achieving the necessary savings for the stimulus checks may not be feasible. If they are implemented, it could take longer than anticipated.

What Does DOGE Stand For in Politics?

DOGE, which signifies the Department of Government Efficiency, primarily focuses on identifying strategies to reduce expenses and regulatory burdens. The name is also associated with the cryptocurrency, dogecoin.

Musk was designated as the head of this organization by Trump soon after he took office, with the department established officially via executive order on Trump’s first day.

Recent court filings have raised questions regarding Musk’s role within DOGE, suggesting that Musk functions as a “senior advisor to the president” rather than as the head of DOGE. Furthermore, these filings asserted that the department operates independently from the White House.

On Tuesday, the White House announced that Amy Gleason, formerly of the U.S. Digital Service, has been appointed as the acting DOGE administrator.

DOGE Live Tracker

The DOGE official website (doge.gov/savings) purports to monitor its actions and track its savings. The site displays the total savings alongside “receipts” for the claimed savings.

How Much Money Has DOGE Saved?

As of February 24, the site claims it has saved $65 billion via a combination of fraud detection and elimination, contract cancellations and renegotiations, asset sales, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes, and regulatory savings.

The DOGE website promises to provide evidence of its cost-reduction efforts; however, the majority of listed items are contracts that have been canceled across various federal departments and agencies.

USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider contributed to this article.