In a recent social media exchange, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, hinted at the possibility of issuing $5,000 checks to American taxpayers—a concept dubbed the 'DOGE Dividend.’ This proposal, originating from investment firm CEO and DOGE adviser James Fishback, suggests allocating 20% of DOGE’s projected savings and distributing it to taxpaying households. Let’s assess what we know now.
The Genesis Of The DOGE Dividend And $5,000 Stimulus Check Calculation
Fishback introduced the 'DOGE Dividend’ on X (formerly Twitter), proposing that a portion of DOGE’s anticipated $2 trillion in savings be returned to taxpayers in the form of $5,000 stimulus checks. “We wanted to help make DOGE real for millions of Americans. They deserve a portion of the savings DOGE will deliver under President Trump’s leadership,” Fishback said.
According to Fishback’s calculations, dedicating 20% of these savings would amount to $400 billion, translating to about $5,000 per household for the 78 million tax-paying households. Musk responded to this proposal by stating he would discuss it with President Trump.
While the notion of a DOGE dividend and receiving a $5,000 stimulus check is enticing to many, undoubtedly it faces numerous legislative, economic, and legal challenges.