Trump, Musk, lawmakers huddling over how to give taxpayers percentage of DOGE-recovered funds

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who heads up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have done nothing short of an amazing -- and eye-opening -- job of slashing government waste within the first month of Trump's second presidency.

But what's even more amazing is what the two men are heavily considering doing, which is sharing some of that pot of savings with American taxpayers, possibly to the tune of $5,000, or possibly more, for each person, Fox News reported. 

The announcement that such a move is being considered comes on the heels of many people cheering Trump and Musk for saving taxpayers so much money but also suggesting that some of that money be returned to our pockets.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, confirmed that through the reconciliation process in Congress, it's possible that Americans will receive a portion of the recovered proceeds.

What's happening?

Trump dropped a bombshell to reporters earlier in the week when he suggested that Americans could receive 20% of the funds retrieved and saved by DOGE while another 20% could be applied to the national debt.

Fox News noted:

DOGE so far claims to have saved some $55 billion via cuts to USAID, the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Some of DOGE's cost-cutting efforts are under legal challenge, however.

At a White House press briefing earlier in the week, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Trump adviser Stephen Miller how the checks to Americans would work and if it's actually being considered.

"We're hearing about these DOGE dividend checks," Doocy asked. "That would be 20% back to taxpayers, 20% to pay down the debt, 60% is left. Who gets that?"

Miller replied, "Well, the way that it works is when you achieve savings, you can either return it to the taxpayers, you can return it to our debtors, or it can be cycled into next year's budge."

Miller was also asked when, exactly, American taxpayers could see the money arrive.

"This is all going to be worked on through the reconciliation process with Congress that's going under way right now," Miller said.

Social media reaction

One didn't have to look far on social media to find positive reactions to the idea of money being returned to the taxpayer.

What are your thoughts on the DOGE dividend?

Trump is reportedly considering a “tax refund” of $5,000 dollars to Americans as DOGE is on track to cut government waste and fraud by 1 trillion dollars.

$1T divided by 200M tax payers is $5k per person. pic.twitter.com/594mF0jNSi

— Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Commentary (@JoeRoganCast) February 19, 2025

"I think that since the money was stolen from us it would be great for morale. People feel great disappointment over this. I also think it would wake some people up that haven't been paying attention and would be forced to wonder where this refund is coming from and why," one X user wrote.