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Elon proposes $5,000 dividend checks to every American taxpayer

Elon Musk has expressed interest in a bold proposal to showcase the cost-saving impact of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

On Tuesday, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that he would “check with the president” about a plan to send $5,000 checks to every qualifying American, funded entirely by savings from DOGE’s budget-cutting efforts.

The concept, originally suggested by James Fishback, a partner at investment firm Azoria, is being called the “DOGE Dividend.” Fishback explained that the initiative would serve as a tangible demonstration of DOGE’s effectiveness, turning government waste reduction into direct financial relief for taxpayers.

Fishback outlined the proposal’s key elements, emphasizing that DOGE has already delivered significant savings since its launch under President Trump’s second administration. With the department reportedly saving $1 billion per day, he argued that a portion of those funds should be returned to taxpayers as a dividend.

“President Trump has an opportunity to work with Congress to take DOGE one step further,” Fishback stated. “We at Azoria propose a tax refund check, funded exclusively by DOGE savings, to be distributed after the program expires in July 2026.”

However, the plan includes specific eligibility requirements. To receive the DOGE Dividend, individuals must be net payers of federal income tax, meaning only those who contribute more in taxes than they receive in government benefits would qualify.

Fishback highlighted the potential economic benefits of this approach, particularly in increasing labor force participation. “Today, 7 million working-age men in America are neither working nor looking for work,” he noted. “The prospect of a $5,000 DOGE Dividend in 2026 will incentivize many to re-enter the labor force in 2025 in order to qualify.”

He further argued that declining labor force participation is holding back U.S. economic growth, and this incentive could help reverse that trend.

Since its inception, Musk’s DOGE initiative has identified billions in government waste, uncovering mismanagement of taxpayer funds across multiple sectors. Investigations have revealed:

  • $1.7 billion in unspent COVID relief funds
  • $3 billion lost to fraudulent unemployment claims
  • $800 million wasted on failed green energy projects
  • $200 million spent on diversity training for federal employees
  • $4.5 billion in foreign aid sent to hostile regimes with little oversight

The findings have fueled momentum for the DOGE Dividend proposal, with supporters arguing that taxpayers deserve to see the benefits of government efficiency efforts.

Musk’s public endorsement of the idea signals potential White House interest, though formal discussions with Congress would be needed to make the initiative a reality. If implemented, the DOGE Dividend could become one of the most direct ways the federal government has ever returned savings to American taxpayers.