Trump Considers ‘DOGE Dividend’ to Return Federal Savings to Taxpayers

[Social Media]

 

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is weighing a proposal to return 20% of the savings from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to American taxpayers. The move could provide thousands of dollars in relief to citizens grappling with record inflation.  

 

“There’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt,” Trump said during a speech in Miami Beach to a nonprofit backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. He added, “The numbers are incredible, Elon, so many billions — hundreds of billions — and we’re thinking about giving 20% back to the American citizens.”  

 

Trump’s remarks followed Musk’s recent statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he confirmed he would discuss the idea with Trump. The proposal was initially floated by investor James Fishback, who has actively pushed for a taxpayer rebate tied to DOGE’s cost-cutting measures.  

 

While the exact amount DOGE has saved so far remains uncertain, Musk has set an ambitious goal of cutting $1 trillion in federal costs annually. His 100-person team has been aggressively restructuring the federal bureaucracy, shutting down agencies, reducing staff, and canceling contracts deemed unnecessary.  

 

Among the most dramatic measures taken, DOGE has halted operations at USAID, a $50 billion-a-year foreign aid agency, while laying off most of its 10,000 employees. It has also begun dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency with 1,700 employees and $712 million in funds, the fate of which remains uncertain.  

 

Additionally, last week DOGE uncovered $1.9 billion in "misplaced" and unused funds within the Department of Housing and Urban Development and canceled $373 million in Education Department grants that were allocated for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training programs. The initiative also scrapped $900 million in grants meant for tracking academic progress and signaled that the Pentagon’s discretionary spending could be next in line for cuts.  

 

Musk, who leads SpaceX, Tesla, and X, has stated that he plans to spearhead this government spending overhaul for approximately four months. Fishback, a strong proponent of the "DOGE Dividend," has estimated that if DOGE achieves $2 trillion in savings over two years, the total would translate to approximately $25,000 per taxpayer. Under the proposed 20% rebate plan, each taxpayer could receive about $5,000.  

 

However, Musk clarified in a tweet on Wednesday that no specific amount has been decided. He also suggested that the payout could take the form of lower tax bills rather than direct payments. “The amount would… obviously be proportionate to how much savings DOGE actually achieves,” he wrote.  

 

“More savings would mean a bigger tax reduction! The top DOGE priority remains however reducing the deficit to stop inflation and lower people’s interest rates.”  

 

The proposal remains in its early stages and would require congressional approval before any payments or tax reductions are implemented. Meanwhile, debates continue over whether government savings should be returned to taxpayers, used to pay down national debt, or reallocated elsewhere within the federal budget.

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-02-21

 

 

[khunjeff]

I'll start thinking about how to spend my check for 12 cents right now 🙄

[timendres]

Personally, I would prefer that they apply all of the savings to the debt.

After the annual deficit is eliminated.

[ignore it]

Works for me.

[Paul Henry]

Just another distraction and empty promise.we have not seen any savings yet just a lot of numbers.Moving the deck chairs on the  TItanic before it sinks!

[Luuk Chaai]

5 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

Just another distraction and empty promise.we have not seen any savings yet just a lot of numbers.Moving the deck chairs on the  TItanic before it sinks!

 

US recoups $59 million spent on migrant luxury hotels: Homeland Secretary chief

[candide]

And free haircuts, too! 

[Paul Henry]

Luuk, the $55mio again turned out to be incorrect only half of the facts taken into account and Musk and Trump spun another bulls!!t story. Look up the real story before you believe the lies these two are telling the American public while they rape the country and make more wealth for themselves that they never report.

[save the frogs]

the trump haters are gonna find a way to put a negative spin on this.

[Eric Loh]

So he is now considering and not promising or pledging which were just piss in the wind. If he can’t do eggs, considering for taxpayers will be his latest ruse or brain fart 

[Paul Henry]

DOGE is a con,just a way for Trump to get his hands further into the honey pot.The $50mil then $100mil for condoms for Hamas was bs.The GAZA referred to was in Africa not Palestine and had nothing to do with Hamas but was for birth and HIV control in Africa not making BOMBS and included many items other than condoms.Then ofcourse there was the 8 billion savings Musk amd his mignons reported saving that was in fact 8 million and they then claimed it was a typing error. NOW THEY ARE CUTTING AID TO THE FIRST RESPONDERSOF 12/11 THEY HAVE NO SHAME.TRUMP employed them now applaudes them.

[John Drake]

On 2/21/2025 at 3:02 AM, Social Media said:

The move could provide thousands of dollars in relief to citizens grappling with record inflation.  

 

 

What it will do is cause massive inflation, just like Trump's and Biden's Covid stimuli did.

[jas007]

Once upon a time, $5000 as a nice little bit of money.  Not anymore.  Today's $5000 is the old $500, so it's no big deal and I'm sure it won't bankrupt the country.  Anyway, I will unfortunately owe taxes this year, as usual, so even little bit helps. 

[Tug]

12 hours ago, save the frogs said:

the trump haters are gonna find a way to put a negative spin on this.

Do you actually believe what trump says?firstly proof second if anything is saved they would just roll it into an extra tax break for themselves.the country or our people will never see any benefit now that you can take to the bank.

[save the frogs]

6 minutes ago, Tug said:

Do you actually believe what trump says?firstly proof second if anything is saved they would just roll it into an extra tax break for themselves.the country or our people will never see any benefit now that you can take to the bank.

 

It's not about believing everything he says.

But neither is it about being so cynical where you think every move politicians are making is only for their own benefit.

What allowed so many westerners to have comfortable retirements in Thailand in the first place? A reasonably well-governed country that allowed people to save money maybe?

Keep things in perspective. 

 

[CallumWK]

So 20% to tax payers, and 20% to reduce the debt.

Where does the other 60% go?

[Smokin Joe]

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

So 20% to tax payers, and 20% to reduce the debt.

Where does the other 60% go?

 

This is just a wild guess, but maybe to keep running the government.

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

So 20% to tax payers, and 20% to reduce the debt.

Where does the other 60% go?

Ukraine resorts

[Lacessit]

On 2/21/2025 at 3:31 PM, Paul Henry said:

Just another distraction and empty promise.we have not seen any savings yet just a lot of numbers.Moving the deck chairs on the  TItanic before it sinks!

You beat me to it with the Titanic analogy.

[Jingthing]

I have a theory.

Right now there are organic street protests and angry loud town halls of Trump - Maga house members where people expressing outrage about the radical actions of DOGE, including the attacks on privacy.

Trump's poll numbers are way down, and Musk's popularity is dropping like a rock.

This promise of a dividend is another diversionary trick. 

He thinks the base at least will shut their yaps if they think they'll be getting a check.

Meanwhile the administrative fascist coup and power grab continues and the end result is of course all classes get royally screwed except for the billionaires when they get their big tax cut (the reason they want to cut so big in the first place).

 

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

You beat me to it with the Titanic analogy.

They're already cutting Medicaid, and they lied that they won't touch Medicare and SS. There is big money there -- for the billionaires.

[Lacessit]

15 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They're already cutting Medicaid, and they lied that they won't touch Medicare and SS. There is big money there -- for the billionaires.

Going to be interesting to see what happens in the mid-terms.