President Trump and Elon Musk’s “DOGE Dividend Check”: A Bold Proposal to Slash Waste and Reward Taxpayers

Trump and Musk’s “DOGE Dividend Check”: A Bold Proposal to Slash Waste and Reward Taxpayers

In a striking move to reshape government spending, President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have thrown their weight behind an ambitious initiative spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Led by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria investment company, DOGE aims to cut federal waste, fraud, and abuse, with a tantalizing promise: redistributing the savings as $5,000 checks to American taxpayers. Speaking on Dr. Phil’s show on March 26, 2025, Fishback outlined a vision that hinges on aggressive cost-cutting and citizen participation, a plan that has sparked both excitement and skepticism.

The DOGE initiative, launched as part of Trump’s broader agenda to downsize government, has already slashed funding from several federal agencies. Fishback points to the Pentagon, Social Security, and Medicaid as prime targets for future savings, arguing that eliminating fraudulent claims and inefficiencies could free up billions. “There is waste and fraud in Social Security… Medicare and Medicaid as well,” he told Dr. Phil. “If you aren’t entitled to those payments… that is fraud. We have to cut you out—not because we want to, but because we have to protect those programs and the taxpayer.” With potential savings projected at $2 trillion, Fishback believes $5,000 checks per household are within reach.

Trump has publicly praised Musk, calling him a “friend” during a February 11, 2025, Oval Office event, where the two appeared together for an executive order signing. Musk’s influence in DOGE has been pivotal, amplifying its mission to “chain saw” through federal bureaucracy. Fishback, meanwhile, has positioned himself as the plan’s architect, emphasizing that the checks aren’t a stimulus but a refund for taxpayers burdened by government excess. “It’s designed to reward the taxpayer for the egregious waste that’s been uncovered,” he told Newsweek on March 18. In just 50 days, he claims DOGE has saved enough to offer each household $670—a figure he hopes to grow with public help.

Eligibility for the proposed checks is straightforward but restrictive. Fishback explained to Dr. Phil that recipients must have paid federal income tax in the most recent year, be receiving Social Security benefits, or be veterans collecting benefits. Notably, taxpaying migrants without legal status are excluded, and the payout would be per household, not individual. This includes some Social Security recipients, as the IRS taxes up to 85% of benefits for those with combined incomes above certain thresholds. Fishback’s team is urging Americans to report waste or fraud, incentivizing participation with the promise of bigger checks: “The more the government saves, the bigger that DOGE check ends up being.”

Public reaction, however, is sharply divided. A Quinnipiac University poll reveals 54% of voters believe DOGE’s cuts harm the country, while 40% see them as beneficial. Partisan lines are stark—82% of Republicans support the effort, while 94% of Democrats oppose it. Critics argue that slashing Social Security and Medicaid could undermine vulnerable populations, even if fraud is the target. Supporters, including Fishback, counter that protecting these programs’ integrity requires tough choices.

The road ahead is uncertain. Legislation to enact the “DOGE dividend check” is “coming soon,” Fishback told Newsweek, with the earliest payouts projected for summer 2026 if Congress acts. DOGE’s mission to dismantle government inefficiencies will continue, backed by Trump’s revitalization agenda, which Fishback claims is already boosting domestic manufacturing and employment. Whether this bold experiment delivers $5,000 checks—or falters under political and logistical strain—remains to be seen. For now, it’s a high-stakes gamble that has taxpayers, policymakers, and Musk himself watching closely.