Newly elected President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the possibility of issuing $5,000 stimulus checks to American taxpayers as part of a plan dubbed the “DOGE Dividend.”
The proposal involves redirecting 20% of the savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created agency spearheaded by Elon Musk. Trump hinted at the initiative during a recent speech, emphasizing the substantial savings the department has achieved.
“The numbers are absolutely massive. We’re talking billions—hundreds of billions saved. And we’re looking at returning 20% of that directly to the American people,” Trump stated.
Economic Uncertainty Surrounding the Proposal
While the president expressed enthusiasm for the plan, details remain scarce. The administration has also floated the idea of applying another 20% of DOGE’s savings to help pay down the national debt, which ballooned to $35.5 trillion in 2024, per the U.S. Treasury Department.
However, tax professionals remain skeptical about the feasibility of these proposed stimulus payments. Armine Alajian, a CPA and tax consultant, cautioned against assuming the checks would become reality anytime soon.
“It’s far too early to count on these checks. There are serious concerns about whether the numbers add up,” Alajian explained, highlighting discrepancies in DOGE’s reported savings.
Although the department claimed it had saved $65 billion by reducing government expenditures—such as eliminating leases, downsizing the federal workforce, and cutting regulatory costs—Fortune reported only $16.6 billion in documented savings. Additional errors were discovered on the DOGE website, including a $8 billion mislabeling mistake on a government contract.
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Beyond potential budgetary issues, Alajian warned that injecting hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy could exacerbate inflation.
“If not carefully managed, this type of large-scale cash distribution could have unintended economic consequences,” she added.
The Origins of the ‘DOGE Dividend’
The idea for the proposed payout originated from James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria, who outlined the concept in a social media post.
“President Trump and @ElonMusk should announce a ‘DOGE Dividend’—a tax refund check for every taxpayer, funded strictly by DOGE’s savings,” Fishback wrote.
His four-page proposal argues that these payments would differ from previous stimulus checks issued during the pandemic, which were deficit-financed. Fishback claims the DOGE Dividend would be fully funded through spending reductions rather than borrowing.
Under the plan, 20% of DOGE’s total savings would be earmarked for the payments, while the remainder would go toward reducing national debt. He also suggested that eligibility be restricted to taxpayers above a certain income threshold, unlike prior stimulus programs that included lower-income households.
Fishback estimated that $400 billion in total savings could provide roughly 79 million American households with a $5,000 payment.
Trump and Musk’s Response
Elon Musk responded to Fishback’s idea with interest, stating, “Will check with the President.” Trump, in turn, expressed enthusiasm after reviewing the proposal.
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“A 20% dividend—so to speak—returned to the American people from the money saved by tackling waste, fraud, and abuse? I think it’s a fantastic idea,” he said.
Future Plans and Fiscal Considerations
The administration has signaled additional plans to slash government spending, including significant cuts to SNAP benefits. Meanwhile, inflation has ticked up slightly since Trump took office, though he blamed Biden for the increase.
As discussions continue, Americans remain eager for more concrete details on whether the DOGE Dividend will become reality—or simply remain a bold political proposal .
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