March 2, 2025
Yahoo News recently published an article featuring Jay Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, discussing the proposal by President Trump to issue $5,000 stimulus checks funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), although its feasibility remains uncertain.
DOGE must meet a $2 trillion savings goal to make such payments possible, a target that even Elon Musk has questioned. While Trump suggests giving 20% of the savings to citizens, economists are skeptical, citing concerns over inflation and the deficit. Experts also doubt DOGE will reach its savings target, with Musk’s claims of $55 billion in savings being challenged.
“If DOGE starts “mailing out large checks to large numbers of people, wow, that’s going to put a big boost to inflation because Trump’s putting out tariffs and tariff means more expensive goods and services,” Zagorsky adds.
Many argue that the plan is unrealistic and unlikely to generate sufficient funds for meaningful payouts.
