U.S. President Trump Mulls Using DOGE Savings to Benefit Citizens and Slash National Debt

During a gathering in Miami hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, President Trump revealed plans to potentially distribute a portion of the savings from Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative to the public. He explained that the proposal involves designating 20% of the savings for a direct benefit to Americans, while an equivalent amount could be used to decrease the federal government’s debt.

The idea stems from a four-page memo by businessman James Fishback, who introduced the concept of a “DOGE dividend” on social media. In his proposal, Fishback suggested that by tapping into what he estimates to be $400 billion in savings—calculated from an anticipated $2-trillion in total savings from the initiative—each tax-paying household could receive a $5,000 check after the DOGE initiative concludes in July 2026. This ambitious plan has garnered a response from Elon Musk, who promptly expressed interest in discussing the proposal with the President.

Musk’s broader cost-cutting efforts have already resulted in significant savings by eliminating many relatively small contracts, which, according to preliminary data, have saved U.S. taxpayers $8.5 billion. However, some veteran Republican budget experts view this swift initiative more as an ideological stance against federal agencies than as a purely pragmatic measure to economize government spending.