'Will check with the President': Musk on proposal of $5,000 checks to US taxpayers using DOGE savings

Musk

World's richest man Elon Musk on February 19 said he would check with US President Donald Trump if tax refund checks worth $5,000 each could be sent to US taxpayers using DOGE savings in 2026.

American investor and Azoria Co-founder James Fishback proposed the idea of a 'DOGE Dividend' in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "President Trump and Elon Musk should announce a 'DOGE Dividend'—a tax refund check sent to every taxpayer, funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE," he wrote.

Fishback shared details on how the plan can be executed. "Few in America knew precisely what to expect from DOGE. The early perceived turbulence around leadership, the uncertainty around legal structure, and the lack of precedent for such a bold initiative created a sense of "show me" with DOGE. Just a month into President Trump's second term, DOGE is delivering. Full stop," he wrote in document titled 'The Case for a DOGE Dividend'.

"With DOGE reportedly achieving $1 billion in savings per day, President Trump has an opportunity to work with Congress to take DOGE one step further and deliver what we at Azoria call the 'DOGE Dividend', a tax refund check to be sent after the expiration of DOGE in July 2026 funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE," he further said.

Fishback said DOGE is targeting $2 trillion in total savings. Hence, if 20 percent is taken out of it, then $400 billion can be returned as $5,000 checks to approximately 79 million US households as a tax-refund.

He added that the dividend would compensate "American taxpayers for the egregious misuse and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars that DOGE has uncovered". It would also boost tax morale and encourage labour force participation, Fishback added.

After being elected as the US President, Trump appointed SpaceX boss Musk to lead his federal cost-cutting efforts under the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is set to dissolve in 2026.

Also read: 'Have huge respect for PM Modi, but ...' : Trump questions $21 million DOGE fund for voter turnout in India

DOGE has taken strong actions, including a sweeping review of federal agencies, which could lead to thousands of layoffs. Several Democratic-led states have reportedly filed lawsuits, arguing that Musk has been granted "virtually unchecked power" without being elected or Senate-confirmed.

Notably, White House recently insisted that Musk is not officially part of the DOGE but is merely a senior advisor to President Donald Trump.

"Elon Musk, just like everybody else across the federal government, works at the direction of President Trump," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, maintaining that individual agency heads, not Musk, are responsible for layoff decisions.