The idea of so-called "DOGE stimulus checks" has stirred up quite the conversation in Washington, with President Donald Trump entertaining the possibility of directing a portion of government savings back to American citizens. But while the concept is gaining traction among Trump’s supporters, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is urging caution, emphasizing that fiscal responsibility must remain the GOP’s guiding principle.
Johnson addressed the topic during a “fireside chat” with Newsmax anchor Rob Finnerty at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he acknowledged both the political appeal and the financial concerns surrounding the idea.
“Politically, that would be great for us,” he said. “Send everybody a check… but if you think about our core principles, fiscal responsibility is what we do as conservatives. That’s our brand.” Given the nation’s staggering $36 trillion debt, Johnson made it clear that paying down the deficit should be the top priority.
Trump, however, has left the door open for potential direct payments, suggesting a structure where 20% of the savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could be returned to taxpayers. Speaking at a summit in Miami, he floated the idea directly to DOGE chief Elon Musk, calling the savings “incredible” and noting that the initiative is still in its early stages. “We’re just getting started,” Trump said. “We will rapidly grow our economy by dramatically shrinking the federal government.”
The DOGE program, led by Musk, has already reported $55 billion in savings in just one month, with cost-cutting efforts targeting government waste and inefficiencies. While Trump sees the program as a tool for both economic relief and debt reduction, Johnson is urging a measured approach, focusing on fiscal discipline over short-term political wins.
The conversation gained further momentum when Musk engaged with the idea on his social media platform, X, responding to a suggestion from Azoria CEO James Fishback about creating a "DOGE Dividend" in the form of a tax refund. Musk replied that he would “check with” Trump on the proposal, adding to speculation about how the administration might proceed.
During a separate interview with Fox News’ Mark Levin, Johnson reiterated his support for Musk’s efforts to expose and eliminate government waste.
“The oversight job has been hindered because the deep state and the bureaucracy has not turned over the data. They wouldn’t give us the information we were seeking,” he explained. “Now Elon has cracked the code. He is on the inside of the belly of the beast… unveiling and revealing all these things that we knew intuitively were happening but we didn’t have the evidence.”
Johnson called the DOGE initiative a “game changer,” arguing that it represents a fundamental shift in how the federal government operates. “It is truly revolutionary, and we’re going to restore ultimately through this process the federal government to the original intent of the Founders.”