President Donald Trump expressed support for the idea of giving a portion of the savings generated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) back to American citizens as a form of dividend.
Speaking at an investment conference in Miami on Wednesday, Trump said the administration is considering a proposal in which 20% of the savings from DOGE’s cost-cutting measures would be distributed to U.S. citizens, while another 20% would go toward reducing the national debt.
He also noted that the potential for dividend payments could encourage citizens to report wasteful government spending.
“They’ll be reporting it themselves,” Trump said. “They participate in the process of saving us money.”
Later, while returning to Washington aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about the idea first floated by Musk.
“I love it,” he told reporters.
Musk had hinted at the proposal a day earlier on his social media platform, responding to a suggestion that he and Trump announce a “DOGE Dividend” to refund taxpayers using a portion of the program’s savings. DOGE’s cost-cutting initiatives have already resulted in thousands of federal employees being fired or laid off.
