The potential for a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) check has sparked significant conversation, likely due to the prospect of putting $5,000 into the hands of many citizens.
The idea was initially proposed by investment firm CEO James Fishback and later mentioned by President Donald Trump in late February.
“We’re thinking about distributing 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% for debt reduction,” Trump remarked during the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit held in Miami Beach last month.
This announcement coincided with a report by USA TODAY revealing that DOGE’s website had published inaccurate claims regarding its savings, including a significant reporting error amounting to nearly $8 billion.
So, how might this new stimulus check come into play? Here’s what you should know:
Is there a DOGE stimulus check?
Currently, there are no signs that DOGE plans to issue a stimulus check resulting from cost-saving initiatives. Any stimulus payments from the U.S. government would need Congressional approval, meaning no immediate changes should be expected.
Did people receive stimulus checks in 2025?
Yes, some individuals did.
The Internal Revenue Service distributed stimulus checks to taxpayers who had not claimed a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. This credit was aimed at those who missed out on previous stimulus payments.
The stimulus, announced in December during the Biden administration, was authorized after IRS data indicated that many eligible taxpayers who filed a 2021 tax return had not claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Payments were made in December and January, with eligible individuals receiving up to $1,400, as per the IRS.
Can someone still claim the $1,400 stimulus check?
Taxpayers who did not submit a 2021 tax return might still qualify for the stimulus check if they file their return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by April 15, according to IRS guidelines.
What is DOGE?
DOGE, officially recognized as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is an initiative established by Trump and overseen by “special government employee” Musk.
The purpose of DOGE is to reduce federal spending, deregulate, and modernize federal technology and software to enhance government efficiency and effectiveness.
Who would be eligible for the $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks?
Although Trump did not provide more details about the possible DOGE dividend or its likelihood, Fishback’s detailed four-page proposal described the dividend as a refund “sent exclusively to tax-paying households” with eligibility based on income levels, unlike pandemic-era checks that were distributed “indiscriminately.”
Emphasizing a departure from prior stimulus payments, Fishback noted that DOGE checks would not contribute to inflation as they would be “entirely funded by DOGE-driven savings, unlike COVID stimulus checks which were financed through deficits.”
“A substantial number of low-income households effectively received transfer payments amounting to 25 to 30% of their annual income,” Fishback explained about the pandemic stimulus checks, adding, “This is specifically targeted at households that are net federal income tax payers, meaning they tend to save rather than spend transfer payments like the DOGE dividend.”
This article was originally published in Akron Beacon Journal: When will we get the stimulus check 2025? Is a DOGE check even on the way?
