Future of $5,000 DOGE Stimulus Check in Doubt After Musk’s Exit

Washington, D.C. — The proposed $5,000 “DOGE Dividend” stimulus check faces significant uncertainty following Elon Musk‘s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk announced his exit in late May as concerns mount about the impact of his role in the government.

The DOGE Dividend was proposed as a one-time payment to eligible taxpayers, intended to be funded by a portion of the $2 trillion in federal budget cuts Musk claimed could be achieved. This would mean approximately $400 billion distributed among 79 million taxpaying households.

Mueller Fishback, the idea’s architect, initially enjoyed support from Musk and a tacit endorsement from former President Trump. In February, Trump mentioned at an investment conference that the administration was considering giving back 20 percent to citizens.

Public opinion polls revealed that 79 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of Democrats favored the check, with 24 percent of independents expressing that such a payment might influence their voting behavior. However, Fishback acknowledged that actual payments would depend on the level of savings achieved by his department, which reports $175 billion in savings.

Despite this figure, the original goal of $2 trillion seems increasingly unrealistic. Analysis from the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service highlighted that DOGE could incur an expenditure of $135 billion this fiscal year due to inefficiencies related to workforce changes.

Further complicating matters is the requirement for congressional authorization to disburse any government funds. Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, emphasized that without formal legislation, spending money is illegal. Musk himself pointed out uncertainty on whether checks would actually be distributed, indicating that it depended on broader government consensus.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy acknowledged the political potential of stimulus checks but insisted that the Republican focus should remain on managing America’s substantial deficit before contemplating direct payments.

Concerns over inflation also loom large, as financial experts warn that stimulus checks could exacerbate inflationary pressures. Financial planner Sarah Maitre cautioned that, if inflation is already a worry, additional checks could worsen the situation.

Musk’s departure has weakened momentum for the DOGE stimulus checks. While no formal legislative action has been taken, the gap between promised savings and reported efficiencies raises questions about the future of this proposed payment.