Since the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Donald Trump, interesting news and controversies have been on the rise. This department was formed to reduce federal expenses, eliminate waste of taxes, and modernize operations in government agencies. The department has achieved some of these objectives and recently, President Trump floated a new stimulus check proposal which is an initiative to return a portion of government cost savings to taxpayers in the form of stimulus checks.
Besides gaining traction, especially among citizens who are in support of this idea, the DOGE stimulus checks have also sparked political and economic concerns creating uncertainty if this idea will become a reality.
DOGE Stimulus Checks
The DOGE stimulus checks emerged as part of the broader objective to cut waste of public funds and cutting government spending. DOGE, led by Elon Musk has so far managed to save hundreds of billions in government spending through layoffs, agency consolidations and terminations of unnecessary contracts that were eating into government budget.
DOGE has projected to save approximately $2 trillion and if this is achieved, then each taxpayer would be eligible to a $5,000 check while also allocating 20% to reducing national debt.
The Source of This DOGE Stimulus Check Proposal
This concept was initially suggested by James Fishback who is the CEO of Azoria Investment Firm in February 2025. Fishback started by posting the idea on X (formerly Twitter) proposing a “DOGE Dividend” where a taxpayer would receive refund checks funded by DOGE savings.
Interestingly, Musk responded saying “Will check with the President, fueling speculation that the government would probably support the idea. Shortly, President Trump publicly acknowledged the idea at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami Beach where he said, “We’re considering giving 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% to paying down the debt.”
According to Fishback, since DOGE has already saved over $400 billion within the first 52 days, the figure equates to $652 per taxpayer. Although the figure is still adrift the proposed $5,000, both Musk and Fishback believe that the amount will be achieved as cost-cutting measures continue to be implemented.
Who is Eligible for a DOGE Stimulus Check?
DOGE stimulus checks will not be universal like the other stimulus payments the government has issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, eligibility will be tied to income tax contribution meaning that only households that are net payers of federal income tax are eligible. The DOGE stimulus checks will also be per household not per taxpayer meaning that married couples will jointly be eligible for one check.
Political Reactions to the DOGE Stimulus Proposal
Despite excitement from the public, the feasibility of DOGE stimulus checks is not guaranteed due to political challenges. Mike Johnson(R-LA) the House Speaker said that it would be politically great because every household would get a tax relief but considering that the U.S. has a $36 trillion debt, it is important that the debt is paid first.
Representatives Riley Moore (R-WV) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT) also suggested that it would be more responsible to reduce the public debt first. Considering that Congressional approval is required for any direct stimulus payments to become viable, the reluctance of House Republicans to support the proposed DOGE stimulus checks remain uncertain.
Could DOGE Stimulus Checks Impact Inflation?
Experts are divided on whether DOGE Stimulus checks would contribute to inflation. Judge Glock, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute said, “This is certainly the wrong time to have any sort of consumer stimulus. Inflation remains elevated, and any direct payments would exacerbate it.”
The president of the committee for a Responsible Federal Budget May MacGuineas argued that returning taxpayers money would make sense but only if DOGE savings reach $1 trillion.
James Fishback insisted that, since DOGE checks would be funded by existing savings instead of new spending, they would not have any effect on inflation.
Will Americans Receive DOGE Stimulus Checks?
The DOGE stimulus checks proposal has sparked political debate and public interest. While the idea sound appealing, its feasibility remains uncertain especially because of lack of political support.
Meanwhile, DOGE stimulus checks remain a proposal awaiting further approval. If passed, millions of American households would receive approximately $5,000 checks which could be a huge financial boost.