Elon Musk Takes Question on DOGE Checks, Says Decision Isn’t His

Elon Musk has answered a question amid uncertainty surrounding potential $5,000 stimulus checks.

Key Takeaways

Elon Musk clarified that the decision on stimulus payouts depends primarily on Congress and the president.
The possible $5,000 stimulus payouts face several barriers, including Congressional approval.
DOGE aims to introduce cuts to reduce government spending and inflation.
If approved, the payouts could be significantly less than $5,000.

The Role of DOGE and Congress

Over the weekend, Elon Musk, who is in charge of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) was asked about the possibility of $5,000 DOGE stimulus checks. The idea has been floated as a possibility by both Musk and President Donald Trump, but Musk made clear in his recent remarks that the final decision isn’t his.

According to Musk, it is “somewhat up to the Congress and maybe the president as to whether specific checks are cut,” but he also added that “wasteful spending” will leave the economy “better off.” He remained noncommittal about the idea of stimulus checks, noting that there is a tremendous amount of work to do.”

DOGE seeks to cut federal spending and achieve $2 trillion in savings. The intention is to reduce inflation tax and streamline government efficiency. DOGE says it has saved $140 billion so far.

Barriers to Stimulus Payouts

The possible stimulus payouts face numerous challenges. Aside from the need for Congressional approval, the payout might not reach the proposed $5,000 and could be reduced to $1,250. In addition, the disbursement of money would require the government to reach the goal of $2 trillion.

It is also unclear how successful stimulus checks would be in Congress. Some Republicans have been critical of the idea, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying, “If you think about our core principles, right, fiscal responsibility is what we do as conservatives. That’s our brand. 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.”

The DOGE checks would also focus on eligible households as net-income taxpayers, excluding lower-income Americans.

Will DOGE issue $5,000 checks to Americans? Elon Musk says it's up to Trump and Congress https://t.co/obHKh6IKWc

— News Herald (@pcnewsherald) April 2, 2025

Musk’s Role and Broader Implications

Elon Musk, closely associated with DOGE, emphasized that the potential release of stimulus checks falls under government jurisdiction. Musk has previously floated ideas alongside Trump to reduce government inefficiencies and encourage economic stimulus through strategic financial incentives.

James Fishback, the CEO of investment firm Azoria, was reportedly the person to first raise the idea of the $5,000 checks. He also reportedly suggested that the US could use 20% of the savings on stimulus checks and the rest on addressing the national debt.

Uncertainty about the future of these potential checks continues as officials strategize to balance fiscal responsibility against the potential impact of such stimulus payouts. Musk’s influence and DOGE’s outcomes remain to be seen in ongoing dialogues across the political spectrum.