White House: Doge Dividend Checks “Being Worked On Through Reconciliation Process”
In a significant development that could put thousands of dollars into millions of American households, the White House has confirmed that Congress is actively working on legislation to distribute “Doge dividend” checks using funds recovered through government spending cuts.
During a White House press briefing yesterday, a spokesperson confirmed that both chambers of Congress are currently working through the reconciliation process to implement President Trump’s proposal to return 20% of savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) back to American taxpayers.
“This is all going to be worked on through the reconciliation process with Congress that’s going underway right now,” the spokesperson stated. “As you’ve seen, the Senate’s moving a bill, the House is moving a bill. The president has great confidence in both chambers to deliver on his priorities.”
This marks a dramatic acceleration of what began as a social media proposal just 72 hours ago, with congressional action now underway to make these payments a reality.
Elon Musk Confirms Presidential Support at CPAC
Speaking at CPAC, Elon Musk, who heads Doge, confirmed the administration’s commitment to the dividend checks.
“I took it to the president and he’s supportive of that,” Musk told the audience. “So it sounds like that’s something we’re going to do.”
Musk described the payments as “taking money away from things that are destructive to the country and from organizations that hate you, to you,” calling it “the spoils of battle.”
The concept was initially proposed by James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria, who suggested that 20% of all money saved through Doge’s cost-cutting measures should be returned directly to taxpayers, with another 20% going toward debt reduction.
How Much Could Households Receive?
According to current projections, if Doge reaches its ambitious target of $2 trillion in government savings, approximately $400 billion would be distributed to roughly 79 million American households that pay federal income taxes.
This would translate to checks of approximately $5,000 per household.
However, the Doge live tracker, which was recently updated with corrections, shows current savings at $51.7 billion – far short of the $2 trillion goal. Fishback has suggested that if Doge achieves $500 billion in savings by July 2026, checks would be closer to $1,250 per household.
Not Everyone in GOP Leadership Onboard
While President Trump and Elon Musk have enthusiastically endorsed the dividend plan, some Republican leaders have expressed reservations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the political appeal but questioned the fiscal responsibility of the proposal.
“Look, I mean politically that would be great for us. You know, then everybody [gets] a check. But if you think about our core principles, right? Fiscal responsibility is what we do as conservatives. That’s our brand,” Johnson said. “And we have a $36 trillion federal debt. We have a giant deficit that we’re contending with. I think we need to pay down the credit card.”
This divergence of opinion within Republican leadership could potentially complicate the legislative process as the bills move through Congress.
White House Dismisses Inflation Concerns
Some economists have warned that distributing checks to millions of American households could fuel inflation, similar to how pandemic stimulus payments contributed to price increases.
However, White House officials have firmly rejected these concerns. When directly asked if the payments could be inflationary, a spokesperson responded: “Absolutely not. If we reduce government spending, then that reduces inflation. And if you give people money, then they’re going to save a bunch of it, and when they save it, that also reduces demand, reduces inflation.”
Unlike traditional stimulus payments, these dividends would represent a redistribution of previously allocated funds rather than new government spending.
Examples of “Wasteful Spending” Targeted by Doge
During a press briefing today, President Trump highlighted several examples of federal spending that Doge is targeting:
- $520 million for a consultant to handle ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investments in Africa
- $100 million for contraceptives in Hamas-controlled territories ($50 million initially, followed by another $50 million)
- $40 million for “social and economic inclusion” of migrants with “no location” specified
- $42 million for “social and behavior changes” in Uganda
- $29 million to “strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh” to a firm that Trump claimed had “two people working in it”
Trump also referenced the ongoing investigation into the Social Security Administration, claiming there are 4.7 million Social Security numbers for people aged 100-109 years old in the system.
Timeline and Next Steps
While initial reports suggested the dividend checks might not be distributed until mid-2026 after Doge completes its full efficiency review, the White House’s latest statements indicate that the legislative process is already underway.
The reconciliation process allows Congress to pass certain budgetary legislation with a simple majority in the Senate, potentially fast-tracking the dividend proposal.
Key questions that remain include:
- When exactly might Americans receive these checks?
- Will non-taxpayers, such as Social Security recipients who don’t file tax returns, be eligible?
- How will savings be verified and calculated?
- What happens if Doge falls significantly short of its savings targets?
