Is DOGE giving money back? Here's the latest news on DOGE stimulus checks
Americans and lawmakers continue to talk about the possibility of a stimulus check being sent out in 2025.
The idea for a stimulus check was first floated on Twitter, with the suggestion of using DOGE savings to fund it. Elon Musk indicated he would speak with President Donald Trump about the issue. Trump has since addressed the idea publicly, noting that he and advisors were considering using 20% of savings to pay down debt and paying another 20% forward to Americans.
However, don't count on that check just yet. Here's the latest news about DOGE stimulus checks, including what people are saying, when checks could be mailed and what DOGE stands for in government.
Is DOGE giving money back?
There have been talks about sending a stimulus check to American households from the federal funds DOGE has freed up by slashing jobs.
However, don't expect the money to hit your account or a check in your mailbox any time soon. The DOGE stimulus check is still just being discussed.
The decision to send a check does not rest solely in Trump's hands. Congress would have to approve the proposal before any form of stimulus payment could be issued by the federal government. Thus, no checks will be sent out for the time being and no timeline for payments exists.
Congressional officials have weighed in on the concept though and responses run the gamut. Some lawmakers have been supportive of the idea, but others have expressed a desire to instead pay down the deficit or see the proposal before officially weighing in.
Also, to make the stimulus check feasible, the department must save $2 trillion, which Elon Musk has previously said may not be doable. If it does happen, it could take longer than expected.
Latest news about DOGE stimulus checks
A recent survey from J.L. Partners shows that there is widespread support for a DOGE dividend, with 67% of respondents supporting the stimulus.
The study, which was completed on Feb. 24-25, surveyed 1,001 registered voters about their feelings on the dividend.
Of the respondents, 46% said they strongly support the idea of a DOGE dividend and 21% somewhat support it. On the opposite end of things, only 12% of respondents said they somewhat or strongly disapprove of the concept.
The survey also indicated that nearly half of all respondents, regardless of job or income level, would feel more positive about Trump if they received a stimulus and would be more likely to vote for a Republican Congressional representative. Generally, Americans would feel "happy," "relieved," "excited" and "grateful" to receive a check.
Cybersecurity expert Miguel Fornés with Surfshark warned Americans that the talk of dividends could spur scammers to impersonate government officials or use the news to trick people.
"It is more crucial than ever for individuals to remain cautious and protect their personal information from potential cybercrimes. The new government plans and the news about the DOGE dividend check could encourage bad actors to impersonate the government. Imagine living paycheck to paycheck and receiving an email about a potential DOGE dividend payment—such news could be hard to resist," Fornés said in a news release.
What is DOGE? What does DOGE mean in politics?
DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, is mainly focused on finding ways to cut spending and regulations. The name refers to a cryptocurrency called dogecoin.
Musk was named the head of the organization by Trump shortly after he won the election. Trump made the department official with an executive action on his first day in office.
Recent court filings have called into question Musk's role with DOGE, stating that Musk is a "senior advisor to the president" rather than leader of DOGE. The court filings also stated that the department is distinct and separate from the White House.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Amy Gleason, a former official at the U.S. Digital Service, is the acting DOGE administrator.
How much money has DOGE saved?
As of March 2, the site indicates that it has saved $105 billion through a "combination of fraud detection/deletion, contract/lease cancellations, contract/lease renegotiations, asset sales, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes, and regulatory savings."
This amounts to $652.17 per taxpayer, according to the website.
The DOGE website claims to post receipts of its budget-slashing efforts, but most items listed are contracts canceled at various federal departments and agencies.