Elon Musk Signals Potential DOGE Checks, Faces Congressional Skepticism
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have hinted at providing stimulus checks funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, their proposal hinges on congressional approval, which remains uncertain.
Congress must authorize the distribution of DOGE checks for them to become a reality. House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed reservations, citing fiscal responsibility and the need to address the national debt.
"We have a $36 trillion federal debt," Johnson said. "I think we need to pay down the credit card."
Other Republican lawmakers, including Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senator Rand Paul, have also expressed concerns about the proposal.
Despite congressional skepticism, Musk remains optimistic about the DOGE checks. He stated, "I talked to the president, he's supportive of that, and so it sounds like that's something we're going to do."
The "DOGE Dividend" was initially proposed by investor James Fishback as a way to engage the public in DOGE's efforts and compensate taxpayers. It would distribute $5,000 checks to 79 million households based on an estimated $2 trillion in federal budget savings from DOGE.
However, Musk and Trump have since revised that goal down to approximately $1 trillion. The ultimate decision on DOGE checks lies with Congress, and its approval remains uncertain given the concerns raised by some lawmakers.