How did Elon Musk become so powerful in Washington?
As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has implemented significant changes. But who is Elon Musk, and how did he rise to prominence in Washington?
Many are wondering about a potential $5,000 dividend check or some type of refund for American taxpayers from DOGE. Here’s an update on the reality of the stimulus check, including what it entails, who qualifies, and its current status.
During an interview with Chris Cuomo, James Fishback, CEO of the Azoria investment firm and proponent of the DOGE dividend idea, was asked about the likelihood of its success. His response was, “Yes, I truly believe it will happen. I have unique insights from my two weeks on the Hill, meeting with House and Senate members.”
Fishback detailed that he received exceptionally positive feedback regarding the DOGE dividend check concept, stating, “the support for this proposal is overwhelmingly affirmative.” Furthermore, he claimed backing from President Donald Trump, special government agent Elon Musk, and economist Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council.
“70% of government spending comes directly from taxpayers,” Fishback remarked during the interview. He continued, “When there is waste, fraud, and abuse or when taxpayer funds are mismanaged, leading people to feel cheated, it’s time for them to receive restitution.”
On whether the government should utilize savings to reduce debt or refund taxpayers, Fishback asked, “Would you rather return the money to hardworking taxpayers—who comprise 70% of government funding—or send it to Beijing to settle a bill?”
At a recent rally in Wisconsin, Musk indicated that the decision to issue the DOGE dividend check rests with the president and congressional approval, dictating whether his cost-saving measures would result in “a check being cut for taxpayers.”
“As government spending becomes more efficient, the tax burden from inflation is alleviated,” Musk stated at the rally. “Ultimately, you will be better off if resources in the United States are not squandered.” He added, “We’ve made significant strides, but much work still lies ahead.”
According to the DOGE website, the estimated savings so far amount to $155 billion, translating to almost $1,000 savings per individual federal taxpayer.
Here’s what you need to know about the DOGE dividend check.
Trump indicated in February that he would contemplate a plan to issue $5,000 stimulus checks to taxpayers in the form of a ‘DOGE dividend.’ He described it as directing a portion of the 20% savings identified by Musk’s DOGE back to taxpayers.
The concept was originally proposed by Fishback on Musk’s social media platform X, suggesting an announcement of a ‘DOGE Dividend’—a tax refund check distributed to every taxpayer funded entirely by DOGE-sourced savings. Musk responded, “I will consult with the President.”
In a March 27 interview with FOX News’ Bret Baier, Musk and the DOGE team discussed a timeline to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion through the elimination of wasteful government spending and fraud. At that time, DOGE claimed approximately $130 billion in savings, estimating over $800 in savings per taxpayer.
Trump has yet to provide additional details or specifics regarding the potential ‘DOGE dividend’ or its feasibility.
Fishback’s four-page proposal for the “DOGE dividend” outlined it as a refund “allocated solely to tax-paying households.” He highlighted that unlike previous stimulus checks, DOGE checks wouldn’t be inflationary since they’d be “exclusively financed by DOGE-generated savings—contrary to COVID stimulus checks, which were financed by the deficit.”
Fishback’s proposal aims to send dividends only to households above a specific income level, as opposed to pandemic-era checks that were distributed “indiscriminately.”
“Many low-income households received transfer payments amounting to 25% to 30% of their annual income,” Fishback commented regarding pandemic stimulus checks, adding, “This exclusively targets households that are net-payers of federal income tax, which means they are likely to save rather than spend a transfer payment like the DOGE dividend.”
“I’m honored to have the president’s support, but the proposal is straightforward,” Fishback stated. “DOGE is projected to save a significant amount of money over the next few years. Let’s allocate 20 percent of those savings back to the hardworking taxpayers who provided it to D.C. in the first place.”
By definition, a dividend is a distribution of profits by a corporation to its investors, whereas a refund is a return of money previously paid for something. A stimulus check, however, serves as a direct payment intended to encourage spending and stimulate the economy through immediate consumer spending.
Am I eligible for the DOGE check?
The proposed refund would exclusively be issued to households that are net income taxpayers—those who pay more in taxes than they receive back—with lower-income Americans not qualifying for this return, according to news reports. The Pew Research Center indicates that most Americans with an adjusted gross income below $40,000 effectively pay no federal income tax.
The intended DOGE refund check would be distributed per household, not per individual taxpayer, and would include individuals receiving Social Security benefits who meet the income tax criteria.
What is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formally the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is an initiative established by Trump and led by special government employee Musk.
The goal of DOGE is to cut federal spending, reduce regulation, and “modernize federal technology and software to enhance governmental efficiency and productivity.”
When introduced, DOGE aimed to save up to $2 trillion annually. As it stands, DOGE claims to have saved $155 billion.
(This story was updated to correct a misspelling.)
Maria Francis is a journalist based in Pennsylvania with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.
