On March 30, 2025, Elon Musk visited Green Bay, Wisconsin. Officially, he was there to support a campaign for the state Supreme Court in his new role as “secretary” of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But, as always with Musk, what grabbed headlines had little to do with court campaigns.
At the event, someone asked a big question that’s been floating around online: Will people receive DOGE stimulus checks? Musk’s reply didn’t give a straight answer and left many people even more confused.
What Are DOGE Stimulus Checks?
The idea of DOGE stimulus checks came up in February 2025. James Fishback, the CEO of investment firm Azoria, proposed something interesting: if DOGE can save money by cutting wasteful government spending, a part of those savings—20% to be exact—should go back to the people as cash payments.
According to Fishback’s math, if the DOGE saved $2 trillion, each household in the U.S. could get around $5,000. The idea became more popular when Donald Trump publicly supported it, saying he was “seriously considering” the plan. Musk also reacted casually on social media, saying, “I’ll check it with the president.”
But in the weeks that followed, excitement around the idea started to cool off.
Musk’s Response in Green Bay: Vague but Hopeful?
During the Green Bay town hall, Musk didn’t say “yes” or “no” about the $5,000 checks. Instead, he said something along the lines of, “Well, first we have to save enough money. If we can do that, maybe that money can go back to the taxpayers. But that’s up to the president and Congress.”
Basically, Musk made it clear that the final decision is not in his hands. Even if DOGE saves a lot of money, he cannot guarantee the government will hand out that cash to people. He added that reducing wasteful spending could still help the economy, even if stimulus checks don’t happen.
So, for now, it’s more like a “wait and watch” situation.
Will Everyone Get $5,000 if DOGE Checks Happen?
While the idea of receiving $5,000 sounds exciting, experts say it’s not so simple. First, giving away that much money to everyone could increase inflation, making prices go up again. Second, it’s likely that not everyone would qualify.
Some experts believe there could be income limits, meaning those who earn too much—or possibly even too little—might be left out. But right now, there are no official rules or guidelines, just speculation.
Also, even though Musk and Trump support the idea, Congress must approve it, and with today’s divided politics, that’s not going to be easy.
What Happens Next?
So, will DOGE stimulus checks happen? The honest answer is: nobody knows yet.
The proposal is still on the table, and there is some support behind it. But many things need to line up first—major government savings, political approval, clear payment plans, and economic stability.
For now, the DOGE department is focusing on cutting unnecessary federal spending. If that works out and saves a huge amount of money, then maybe the conversation about stimulus checks will come back stronger. Until then, it’s better not to count on any surprise payments.