Could $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks actually happen? Here’s what we know.
The idea of $5,000 stimulus checks from the Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal spending has been suggested, but will it materialize?
Are you anticipating a stimulus check from the Trump administration’s DOGE? Is it categorized as a stimulus check, refund check, or dividend, and from where would these funds originate?
President Donald Trump mentioned he’s considering a strategy to issue $5,000 stimulus checks to taxpayers as a ‘DOGE dividend’ during a February speech. He explained it as part of distributing 20% of the savings identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency back to American taxpayers.
The concept of this ‘DOGE dividend’ was previously proposed by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria investment firm, on Musk’s social media platform X, indicating that Trump and Musk “should announce a ‘DOGE Dividend’ — a tax refund sent to all taxpayers, funded entirely from the savings generated by DOGE.” Musk replied saying he would “check with the President.”
Here’s what you need to know about a potential DOGE check.
What is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency, officially known as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is an initiative started by Trump and overseen by ‘special government employee’ Musk.
DOGE’s mission focuses on reducing federal expenditure, streamlining regulations, and modernizing federal technology and software to improve governmental efficiency and productivity.
Is a DOGE stimulus check available?
No indication has been provided that DOGE will back any stimulus checks as a result of its cost-saving strategies. Any form of stimulus payment distributed by the U.S. government must receive Congressional approval. Thus, do not expect a check soon.
How much has DOGE saved to date?
Initially, DOGE aimed to save up to $2 trillion annually. The agency asserts it has already achieved $105 billion in government spending cuts, although this figure remains unverified.
As reported by WHYY.org, there are discrepancies in those savings claims. “An NPR review of more than 1,100 contracts from that initial announcement indicates that DOGE’s ‘maximally transparent’ calculations still exaggerate its estimated savings by billions,” WHYY.org reports.
The agency has imposed substantial cuts across various federal departments, resulting in significant layoffs among federal employees. Affected departments include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
