The Trump admin honeymoon is over. The infighting is setting in.
Because U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson just stabbeb Trump right in the back.
House Speaker Mike Johnson Criticizes DOGE Savings Proposal at CPAC
During the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed strong disapproval of a proposal to use savings generated through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to send direct checks to Americans. The idea, known as the “DOGE dividend,” was first introduced by James Fishback, CEO of an investment firm, who shared it on the social media platform X on Wednesday.
Fishback’s plan suggested that 20% of the federal savings through DOGE, which he estimates could amount to $2 trillion, should be returned to citizens in the form of $5,000 checks. Elon Musk responded positively to the proposal, stating that he would “check with the president.” The following day, former President Donald Trump echoed Musk’s sentiments, expressing interest in the idea.
Will check with the President
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 18, 2025
While the proposal garnered significant attention from figures like Musk and Trump, Johnson, a prominent conservative leader, voiced skepticism. “Well, look, politically that would be great for us — you send everybody a check, but if you think about our core principles, fiscal responsibility is what we do as conservatives,” Johnson said. He emphasized the need to address the nation’s significant fiscal challenges, noting the current $36 trillion federal debt and the growing deficit. “I think we need to pay down the credit card,” he added, aligning with conservative priorities of reducing national debt rather than distributing checks.
Fishback’s four-page proposal estimated that 20% of the projected $2 trillion savings from DOGE would be allocated directly to taxpayers as rebates, roughly $5,000 per household. In his vision, this approach would provide immediate relief to Americans, offering financial support during times of economic uncertainty.
At an investment conference in Miami, Trump suggested that he would consider the idea, emphasizing the potential benefits for citizens. “There’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens, and 20% goes to paying down the debt, because the numbers are incredible,” Trump stated, signaling his openness to the proposal. His comments indicated a willingness to explore this unconventional approach to addressing both the nation’s debt and the financial well-being of its citizens.
Naturally, D.C. politicians have not been fond of the idea. Democrat Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett voiced her opposition to the DOGE dividend during a segment on ABC News on Thursday. Crockett questioned the practical impact of the proposed $5,000 check, suggesting that it would not significantly help Americans facing deeper economic struggles. “I don’t know what $5,000 would do for you if you are unable to find a job,” she said, adding that the U.S. might be heading into a recession due to the government’s role as a major employer. “We are not in the business of giving out money,” Crockett declared, signaling that she does not support distributing funds without addressing the root causes of economic challenges.
While the debate over the DOGE dividend continues, the savings generated by DOGE are already a matter of public record. According to reports, DOGE has cut an impressive $55 billion in federal spending to date. Elon Musk, in a January broadcast on X, indicated that his team was targeting a reduction of up to $2 trillion in federal expenditures, with a “good shot” at cutting half of that amount.
Key savings have reportedly come from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education. Additionally, a significant portion of the savings has resulted from widespread terminations and resignations facilitated by Trump’s federal employee buyout program, which saw about 75,000 federal workers voluntarily leave their positions.
While figures like Trump and Musk see it as a potential boon for citizens, conservatives like Speaker Johnson and critics like Rep. Crockett remain focused on the broader fiscal implications of such an idea. The future of the DOGE savings plan and its impact on American households and the federal budget will likely remain a contentious topic, even though Donald Trump and the American people are overwhelmingly in favor of the idea.
President Donald Trump expressed his support for the idea of returning a portion of the savings from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directly to U.S. citizens in the form of a dividend. Speaking at an investment conference in Miami on Wednesday, Trump revealed that the administration is exploring a plan where 20% of the savings generated by DOGE’s cost-reduction initiatives would be distributed to American citizens, while another 20% would go toward reducing the national debt.
Trump also highlighted that such a dividend could encourage people to report government waste. “They’ll be reporting it themselves,” he remarked. “They’ll be involved in saving us money.”
Later, during his flight back to Washington on Air Force One, Trump was asked by a reporter about Musk’s proposed plan. “I love it,” the Republican president said. Trump admin spokespersons have said that they believe this is a matter of what is owed back to the American people since they have been defrauded by a ballooning, corrupt federal government for years.
This effort to return misappropriated taxpayer dollars back to the American people will also make the efforts for Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress to balance the federal budget much more difficult. Recently, President Trump shared online that he would like Congress to send him a balanced budget for him to review and sign into law. President Trump said in an interview with Sean Hannity that he believes they can reach a balanced budget “very quickly.”
HANNITY: How quickly can you balance the budget and start paying down debt?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "Potentially very quickly. Between what [Elon's] doing, and with income coming in from tariffs… I think we can do it very quickly. We would've never done it if this didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/yiUpW5Ri9i
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 20, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
