Trump considers giving back 20% of DOGE savings to Americans

President Donald Trump has expressed interest in a plan to return a portion of the savings generated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to American taxpayers.

Speaking at an investment conference in Miami, Trump stated that his administration is considering allocating 20% of DOGE's savings to U.S. citizens, with an additional 20% going towards reducing the national debt.

Trump described the potential plan as "a new concept."

He also suggested that the prospect of dividend payouts could incentivise individuals to report wasteful spending.

"They'll be reporting it themselves. They take part in the process of helping us save money," Trump remarked.

However, this figure cannot be verified, as the site states that the over 1,000 canceled contracts and leases listed are "a subset" of what DOGE claimed it has canned so far.

The New York Times reported on Feb. 18 that the site listed canceling a single $8 billion contract, which was actually worth $8 million.

However, DOGE said in a Feb. 19 X post in response to the report that it “has always used the correct $8M in its calculations.”

According to Bloomberg, sending 20% of the roughly $8.6 billion of DOGE savings the group has so far listed on its website would amount to about $11 per taxpayer.

During the same summit, Trump stated that his crypto-related executive order signed last month helped to end Joe Biden’s war on Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) and crypto.

"We ended that war totally, that war is over. They were very hostile toward them until the very end,” he stated.

James Fishback, DOGE advisor and CEO of Azoria, suggested implementing a "DOGE dividend" financed through cost-saving measures.

In a memo released on X on Tuesday, Fishback proposed that each tax-paying household could receive a $5,000 check, provided that Musk's task force manages to save $2 trillion by its projected completion in July 2026.

In reaction to Fishback's memorandum, Musk stated on X that he would "consult with the President."

Xu, an associate at UC Haas who specialises in government efficiency, expressed doubts regarding Trump's proposal.

"This appears to be a populist tactic aimed at making the reduction of our federal government capacity more palatable," Xu remarked to Al Jazeera. 

"Instead of dismantling the government to distribute checks, we ought to be investing in enhancing the country’s infrastructure, scientific advancement, and national security."