President Trump and advisor Elon Musk are promoting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claiming to have saved $55 billion in taxpayer money. Trump suggested at a Miami conference that 20% of these savings—approximately $400 billion—could be distributed to eligible tax-paying households as a “DOGE Dividend,” potentially delivering up to $5,000 per household. This plan, developed by supporter James Fishback, aims to incentivize citizens to report waste and fraud, while also addressing federal debt. The proposal emphasizes that only those who pay more in federal income tax than they receive in benefits would qualify for the dividend.
Washington, DC:
The US President, Donald Trump, along with his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, is fully committed to pursuing aggressive cost-cutting and fraud-detection strategies through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This organization has reported savings of $55 billion in taxpayer funds, and the Trump administration is contemplating the distribution of part of these recovered savings to Americans in need.
During an investment conference in Miami last week, President Trump announced that his administration is exploring a proposal to allocate 20 percent of the savings from DOGE’s cost-reduction initiatives to American citizens, with an equal amount designated for reducing the federal debt.
“A new concept is under consideration where we provide 20 percent of DOGE’s savings to American citizens, and another 20 percent will go toward paying down the debt because the figures are astounding,” he remarked.
If enacted, households could receive checks as high as $5,000 after the Musk-led DOGE completes its tasks in July 2026.
‘DOGE Dividend’
The ‘DOGE Dividend’ concept was initially proposed by James Fishback, a DOGE supporter with ties to the Trump administration. On Wednesday, he shared a four-page proposal on X, which captured Musk’s interest and prompted him to share it with President Trump.
When questioned about the proposal during the Miami event, Trump responded, “I love it.”
“A 20 percent dividend, so to speak, for the money we’re saving by tackling waste, fraud, and abuse, along with other issues. I think it’s a fantastic idea,” the President asserted.
“This approach will enable Americans to identify waste themselves. They’ll report it. They will engage in the money-saving process,” he elaborated, although he didn’t offer specifics on how such a plan would be executed or how the remaining 60 percent of DOGE savings would be utilized.
How Would DOGE Dividend Work?
Fishback’s widely-discussed plan depends on the success of Musk-led DOGE’s goal of reducing federal spending by $2 trillion.
The proposal suggests that 20 percent of DOGE’s savings—approximately $400 billion—would be distributed among 79 million tax-paying households in the USA, resulting in a $5,000 check for each household.
Who Could Get The Money?
The plan indicates that only individuals who pay more in federal income tax than they receive in government benefits would be eligible for the DOGE dividends. Fishback asserts that this structure would avert inflationary spending and promote financial stability.
Approximately 40 percent of Americans do not pay these taxes, thus they would not qualify for a check.
“The DOGE Dividend differs from previous stimulus checks in that only tax-paying households are eligible. There is nothing inflationary about reducing debt, saving for emergencies, or investing in education or retirement,” he stated in the document.