James Fishback, the CEO of Azoria, came up with the concept of “DOGE Dividends,” or DOGE stimulus checks, which would return 20% of DOGE savings to taxpayers. With a target of $2 billion in 18 months, DOGE aims to streamline government operations and cut costs.
Musk replied, “I’ll check with the President,” when Fishback shared the concept on X. In a speech on February 19, 2025, in Miami, Trump voiced support, citing COVID-19 pandemic stimulus payments that he signed with his name for political exposure.
Fishback maintained that by recovering alleged misappropriated cash, the program restores public confidence in the government. Musk, however, set expectations low in January 2025, saying that $2 trillion is the “best case scenario” and that $1 trillion may be cut.
Trump is thinking about issuing $5,000 DOGE stimulus payments
There have been no formal actions made to put the inspections into effect as of March 18, 2025. Trump said the proposal was “under consideration” and that, should DOGE reach its goals, each taxpayer home would receive $5,000 payments.
But new CBO data raises doubts about the necessary cuts, revealing a $1.1 trillion deficit in the first five months of Fiscal Year 2025.
With current savings of $115 billion, experts like Yale Budget Lab’s Ernie Tedeschi contend that the checks’ size is “disproportionate to the cuts,” meaning that if they were delivered today, each taxpayer would receive $142. House Speaker Mike Johnson favors using funds to lower debt, citing fiscal prudence, but congressional approval is necessary.
A measure is “on the way,” according to Fishback’s March 2025 optimism, but as of this writing, no legislative draft has been introduced.
According to Pew Research Center data, the proposed checks would target taxpaying households, specifically net payers of federal taxes, leaving out a large number of low-income households that pay little or nothing. In contrast, low-income households were given priority in the COVID-19 stimulus cheques. Based on $400 billion in savings, Fishback’s plan projects that 79 million qualified households may get $5,000 apiece.
The economy of America and your household can both benefit from stimulus cheques in this way
There were several social and economic advantages to the stimulus checks that were put in place in the US during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
For instance, they gave millions of individuals liquidity throughout the pandemic to pay for necessities like food, rent, utilities, and debt. For low-income families, who frequently lack emergency savings, this was essential.
DOGE Terminates Seven Mine Safety Office Leases in Kentucky – Major Changes Ahead
Despite the recession, the US saw a decline in poverty in 2020, according to studies from the Census Bureau and the Urban Institute.
This was partially ascribed to stimulus and related initiatives, such increased unemployment insurance, which started during the first Trump administration and persisted under Joe Biden.
By keeping demand for goods and services high, the money that was poured into the economy kept it from collapsing further. Essential services and retail commerce were among the sectors that directly profited.
They lessened household financial stress, preventing social unrest and mental health emergencies. This was particularly pertinent during a period of uncertainty and loneliness.
Online sales of vital services allowed many local firms to survive by preserving consumer spending power, which in turn kept these micro and small business owners’ economies thriving. Compared to earlier recessions, the US recovered more quickly.
As the economy recovered, expenditure in industries including dining, leisure, and tourism drove a 5.7% GDP growth in 2021.
