The GOP doesn’t like this idea and Americans aren’t happy about it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently distanced himself from a proposal supported by President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, which suggests using savings from a proposed initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to send stimulus checks to Americans. During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Johnson expressed skepticism about the plan despite its apparent popularity.
When asked about the idea during a Newsmax interview with host Rob Finnerty, Johnson acknowledged that the proposal might have political appeal, but he emphasized the importance of sticking to conservative principles. “Politically, it sounds great—it puts money in people’s hands,” Johnson said. “But as conservatives, fiscal responsibility is our core principle. We are facing a $36 trillion national debt, with a massive deficit. We need to focus on paying down the debt rather than adding to it.”
Johnson’s comments were met with applause from the CPAC crowd, highlighting a significant rift between the GOP leadership and former President Trump, who remains a dominant figure within the party. Trump’s recent endorsement of the DOGE plan came during an investment conference in Miami, where he outlined how 20% of savings generated by the program would go toward direct payments to U.S. citizens, and another 20% would be used to reduce the national debt.
Trump argued that such a measure could help reduce wasteful government spending, with citizens being incentivized to report inefficiencies. “They’ll be part of the solution,” Trump said, suggesting that American people would help identify unnecessary expenditures.
While Musk has also expressed support for the idea, the proposal remains controversial, with conservatives and financial analysts raising concerns about its long-term effects. Some warn that the government could misuse DOGE savings as a new funding source, potentially leading to further fiscal irresponsibility. Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, voiced his concerns on social media, cautioning that DOGE could become a financial “piggy bank” for Congress.
As the debate unfolds, it’s clear that Republicans remain divided on how to balance short-term political gains with long-term fiscal responsibility.