Mar. 13—As the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk, continues its efforts to curb government expenditure through cuts to federal jobs and programs, many Americans — including participants in a Dayton Daily News survey — are exploring the idea of a DOGE stimulus check.
“Are we due for a refund check?” one respondent in an online survey asked while this news outlet collects inquiries to address in our reporting.
“How much will it save taxpayers?” inquired another participant from Ross Twp.
Last month, the Trump administration revealed plans to allocate 20% of the $2 trillion targeted federal savings for taxpayer payments, or DOGE dividends. An additional 20% is proposed to go towards reducing the national debt.
However, a DOGE stimulus will not reach your bank account anytime soon — Congressional approval is necessary.
Here’s the current status regarding stimulus checks:
Will I be eligible for a dividend?
At this point, it’s hard to determine. A proposal for DOGE dividends by James Fischback, CEO of Azoria investment firm, shared on the social media platform X alongside Musk, outlines the potential for sending out a $5,000 check to nearly 79 million taxpaying households if the $2 trillion objective is achieved.
“I’ll check with the president,” Musk stated in response.
According to Fischback’s proposal, eligibility would be limited to those who will be paying federal income tax in 2025. However, there are currently no indications that this proposal will advance.
Trump has yet to provide further information regarding the potential for DOGE dividends, but The Associated Press reported last month that he expressed his enthusiasm for the concept.
What exactly is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency is a project of the Trump administration, and despite its title, it does not operate as an official government department.
As per an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, DOGE is set to be a temporary initiative, with the advisory committee expected to conclude its work by 2026.
In addition to enhancing governmental technology and efficiency, DOGE’s staff is also tasked with decreasing federal spending.
DOGE estimates it has achieved $105 billion in savings so far, translating to an average of over $652 saved per taxpayer. Some of these reported savings stemmed from leases that concluded early in the Dayton region.
This, among other findings, prompts discussions on the actual savings generated by the DOGE initiative.
When was the last stimulus check issued?
This year, the Internal Revenue Service distributed stimulus checks to taxpayers who did not claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax filings.
However, this credit was designated for taxpayers who had not previously received stimulus payments.
Individuals who failed to file a 2021 tax return can still qualify for a stimulus check by filing their return and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit by April 15, according to IRS guidelines.
Previously, the last stimulus check sent to taxpayers occurred in 2021 as part of pandemic-related federal relief efforts. This round of congressionally authorized payments, which provided $1,400 to single filers, was included in the American Rescue Plan Act.
