There’s been a lot of buzz in the United States about a possible $5,000 stimulus check connected to a new government department known as DOGE—short for the Department of Government Efficiency. This proposal, supported by Elon Musk and other key figures, has raised hopes among millions of Americans who are still recovering financially from recent tough years.
However, recent updates suggest that the amount might not be as high as originally expected. Let’s look at the current status of the proposal, what DOGE has achieved so far, and whether a stimulus check is likely anytime soon.
What Is the DOGE Stimulus Check All About?
The idea of a $5,000 stimulus check was first tied to DOGE, a newly created federal department led by Elon Musk. DOGE’s main goal is to cut wasteful spending in the US government and use the saved money to offer benefits directly to taxpayers. One way to do that was through a “dividend” payment, possibly a one-time $5,000 check.
While this proposal excited many people, it still hasn’t been officially approved. For such a stimulus to become real, it must go through Congress, and so far, there’s no official bill or law passed to make it happen.
What Did Elon Musk Say About It?
At a Cabinet meeting on April 10, Musk updated the public on DOGE’s progress. He shared that DOGE is expected to save $150 billion in the upcoming fiscal year by cutting down on fraud, unnecessary contracts, interest payments, and other wasteful spending.
This is a lot less than the $1 trillion Musk had initially said the department might save by May. Because of this drop in expected savings, the size of any potential stimulus check could also be lower than $5,000.
Musk explained that DOGE is still on track to meet its savings goals but admitted that earlier projections were too optimistic.
What Are DOGE’s Real Savings So Far?
DOGE has already identified savings of $150 billion, which works out to about $931.68 per taxpayer, based on the 161 million taxpayers in the US.
The savings come from several places:
- Ending unnecessary contracts and grants
- Selling unused government assets
- Reducing fraud
- Cutting interest payments and government staff
Although some data has been shared publicly, about 70% of the savings details are yet to be disclosed, and the official updates are released slowly, often with a delay of up to a month on the fpds.gov website.
Is There Still Hope for the Stimulus?
Despite the uncertainty, some supporters of the proposal are confident that a payment is still possible. On April 8, James Fishback, a promoter of the DOGE initiative, appeared in an interview with Chris Cuomo and said, “Yes, I really think it will happen.”
Fishback mentioned that he had spoken to several lawmakers recently and claimed that the idea is receiving positive feedback in Washington. He also said that President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Kevin Hassett (from the National Economic Council) are backing the idea.
Still, until an official plan is submitted to Congress and approved, this stimulus check remains just a proposal and not a guaranteed payment.
The proposed $5,000 DOGE stimulus check has caught the attention of many Americans hoping for extra financial support. However, despite strong support from key figures, no formal steps have been taken in Congress yet.
With DOGE savings much lower than expected, the final amount—if it happens—could be smaller than originally planned. For now, it’s best to stay updated through trusted government sources and not count on the check until it’s officially confirmed.