Elon Musk announced plans to consult President Donald Trump on a proposal that would send tax refund checks to Americans using funds saved by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting advisory group he oversees.
In a Tuesday post on X, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO responded to a suggestion from James Fishback, CEO of Azoria investment firm, who proposed that Trump use DOGE’s savings campaign to fund a "DOGE Dividend"—a tax refund check for US households.
Musk has previously stated that his goal is to slash $2 trillion from the federal budget, which was $6.75 trillion in the last fiscal year. Fishback proposed allocating 20% of those savings—$400 billion—to taxpayers, which he estimates would result in about $5,000 per household.
“When a breach of this magnitude happens in the private sector, the counterparty, at minimum, refunds the customer since they failed to deliver what was promised,” Fishback wrote.
“It’s high time for the federal government to do the same and refund money back to taxpayers given what DOGE has uncovered.”
While DOGE claims to have saved $55 billion, recent reports cast doubt on that figure:
Despite pushback, DOGE’s initiatives have continued, even as legal challenges mount.
On Tuesday, a federal judge denied a request to block DOGE from accessing federal agencies' computer systems or ordering government worker firings while litigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, Trump has yet to publicly respond to the "DOGE Dividend" proposal, but if enacted, it could mirror the stimulus checks mailed out during the COVID-19 pandemic—which notably featured Trump’s signature, a first for IRS payments.
With ongoing scrutiny over DOGE’s savings claims, it remains unclear if the proposed refunds will gain traction or if Musk’s cost-cutting efforts will translate into tangible taxpayer benefits.
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