Many Americans are hoping for a new $5,000 stimulus check, this time possibly coming from a new government body called DOGE, short for Department of Government Efficiency. While the buzz is growing, recent updates suggest that the payment amount might not be as high as expected—and there’s still no official confirmation or timeline for when these payments might happen.
Let’s break down what DOGE is, what Elon Musk has said about it, and what chances remain for this proposed dividend to become reality.
What Is DOGE and Who Is Behind It?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a new federal initiative that aims to reduce wasteful government spending and return savings to taxpayers. It is currently being supervised by businessman Elon Musk, with backing from President Donald Trump and other top-level officials.
DOGE is supposed to work by cutting unnecessary costs in the federal budget and possibly using those savings to issue dividends or stimulus checks to the public.
Originally, a $5,000 stimulus check was proposed as a possible payout from DOGE savings, but recent developments suggest that this figure might now be much lower.
Musk Revises DOGE Savings Target Downward
During a Cabinet meeting on April 10, 2025, Elon Musk gave an update on DOGE’s progress. He announced that the department is now projecting $150 billion in savings for the next fiscal year. This is a big drop from his earlier estimate of $1 trillion in savings by the end of May 2025.
The main focus areas for these cuts include:
- Eliminating fraud
- Selling unused government assets
- Ending unnecessary contracts and grants
- Reducing staff in some departments
- Cutting interest costs on government loans
This means that each taxpayer might benefit by only about $931.68, based on the current total savings and the estimated 161 million taxpayers in the U.S.
Will There Be a $5,000 Stimulus Check?
As of now, there is no official confirmation that a DOGE-linked stimulus check will be issued. For this kind of payment to happen, it would need a formal proposal in Congress, which hasn’t occurred yet.
Still, hope remains alive. On April 8, James Fishback, one of the public faces of the proposal, spoke to Chris Cuomo and said, “Yes, I really think it will happen.” Fishback also mentioned he’s been meeting lawmakers in Washington and has received “overwhelmingly positive support.”
He also claimed to have backing from Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Kevin Hassett, who heads the National Economic Council. However, until a bill is introduced and passed, these remain just promises.
How Much Has DOGE Saved So Far?
So far, DOGE reports $150 billion in total federal savings, which includes:
- Canceled contracts and grants (30% of total savings)
- Sale of federal assets
- Reduced spending on interest
- Cuts in staffing and program overhead
- Fraud prevention efforts
Only a part of this data is public as of now. Details are being uploaded to the fpds.gov portal, but updates can be delayed by up to a month.
While the idea of a $5,000 stimulus check from DOGE is exciting, it’s important to know that nothing is final yet. The current savings suggest a lower payout of around $931 per taxpayer, and unless Congress passes a bill, no checks will be issued. Even with support from Elon Musk and high-ranking officials, the actual payout depends on legal steps that haven’t been taken yet.
So, if you’re expecting a big check soon, it’s better to stay informed and wait for official confirmation, rather than counting on it too early.
