Stimulus checks have always been popular in the United States. During the Covid-19 pandemic, under the leadership of Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, these checks helped millions of families. They gave people much-needed financial relief and also helped to boost the economy.
Now, in 2025, there’s a new idea making news — the “DOGE dividends”, which could give out $5,000 checks to eligible American households. This proposal is linked to Elon Musk and his involvement with a new department called DOGE—Department of Government Efficiency.
Let’s break it down and understand what this plan is, who could get the money, and whether it’s likely to happen.
What Are DOGE Dividends?
The DOGE dividend is a proposed plan to give back part of the government’s savings to taxpayers. The idea was introduced by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria Partners, and it suggests giving out 20% of the savings made by DOGE in the form of $5,000 stimulus checks.
The goal of DOGE is to cut $2 trillion in government spending. From that amount, about $400 billion would be returned to nearly 79 million households who pay net federal taxes.
However, updated estimates now say that the savings may only be $150 billion, not $2 trillion. This means the size of the stimulus checks could be much smaller than $5,000, or the plan could even be delayed or cancelled.
Who Will Receive the DOGE Stimulus Checks?
The plan is not meant for low-income households, unlike past stimulus checks. Here’s why:
The Tax Foundation and Pew Research Center report that many households earning under $40,000 per year pay little or no net federal tax. In fact, they often receive more in tax credits than they pay in taxes.
Because of this, the DOGE dividend plan may only apply to those who actually pay net federal income taxes. That means middle- and upper-income earners might qualify, while lower-income families may be left out.
How Will It Be Funded?
This is where DOGE is different from pandemic-era stimulus checks.
James Fishback says that the checks will be funded only through savings from the DOGE program, not by printing more money. This means it won’t add to inflation, unlike the earlier stimulus checks which were funded through government borrowing or printing money.
But not everyone agrees. Joseph Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital, warns that even a one-time payment like this could increase inflation by injecting extra cash into the economy.
Elon Musk’s Role in the Plan
Elon Musk has shown interest in the idea and even mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) that he would talk about it with Donald Trump. However, since his last update in April 2025, there have been no new public announcements from him.
Musk also revised the expected savings from DOGE to just $150 billion, which casts doubt on whether the original $5,000 per household is still possible.
The DOGE dividends plan is exciting for many, especially those who regularly pay federal taxes. While the idea of receiving a $5,000 check is attractive, there are still many questions. The funding amount has dropped, and eligibility may exclude many low-income households. Also, experts are divided on whether such a move would affect inflation. If this plan does move forward, it will be a big shift in how the U.S. thinks about tax savings and economic support.
