In recent months, a proposal for a stimulus check linked to government savings has aroused great interest in the United States. Known as the DOGE stimulus check, this plan seeks to redistribute part of the cuts in public spending to taxpayers. Initially, there was talk of a payment of $5,000 per household, but the latest reports indicate that the final amount will depend on the actual savings achieved.
The initiative, promoted by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria, has the backing of former president Donald Trump and the director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk. However, the viability of this check is still uncertain, as federal spending continues to rise and the national deficit continues to grow.
How does the DOGE stimulus check work?
The DOGE stimulus check plan is based on reducing operating costs in federal agencies. According to the proposal, 20% of the savings generated by these cuts would go directly to taxpayers. If $2 trillion in savings is achieved in 18 months, each household would get $5,000.
However, Fishback has acknowledged that this payment is not guaranteed. If the total savings are less, the check would also be reduced. For example:
- With $1 trillion in savings, the payment would be $2,500 per household.
- With $500 billion in savings, the check would be reduced to $1,250.
Uncertainty about these calculations has raised doubts among economists and lawmakers, who warn that the projected cuts may not be enough to finance a stimulus of this magnitude.
Obstacles and doubts about the plan
Despite the support of Trump and Musk, the DOGE stimulus check faces multiple challenges. According to recent data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal spending in February 2025 increased by 7% over the previous year, contributing to a 5% increase in the national deficit.
Furthermore, in the first five months of the 2025 tax year, the government has borrowed $1.1 trillion, calling into question its ability to generate the surplus needed to finance payments to taxpayers.
Some experts point out that, although the initiative promotes greater awareness of government efficiency, it is unlikely that the savings will be sufficient to deliver a $5,000 check to every household.
Will the DOGE stimulus check become a reality?
For now, the DOGE stimulus check is still just a proposal. For it to be realised, it needs legislative approval, and the earliest date it could be implemented would be 2026.
However, not everyone in Congress agrees with the idea. Senator Ron Johnson has expressed concern that any savings should first be used to reduce the deficit before being distributed to taxpayers. Other analysts warn that without a clear strategy to maintain spending cuts, the programme may not be viable in the long term.
In any case, although the DOGE stimulus check has captured the public’s attention, its future is still up in the air. Citizens will have to wait for new legislative decisions to find out whether this plan will become a reality or whether it will end up being just a difficult promise to keep.
