$5000 is a considerable help": Stimulus checks in the United States, possible dates and who they are for

¿Quiénes serían los primeros en recibir los cheques de estímulo de $5,000 en EE.UU.? Te contamos.

El gobierno de Estados Unidos está considerando la posibilidad de entregar cheques de estímulo de $5,000 a los contribuyentes como parte de los ahorros generados por el Departamento de Eficiencia Gubernamental (DOGE), una iniciativa impulsada por el presidente Donald Trump y respaldada por el empresario Elon Musk.

Aunque la propuesta aún necesita la aprobación del Congreso, Trump ha mencionado que el 20% de los ahorros obtenidos por DOGE podrían destinarse directamente a los ciudadanos. Sin embargo, ¿quiénes serían los primeros en recibir estos pagos si el plan se concreta?

Who would qualify for the $5,000 stimulus check?

Si el plan sigue la estructura de los estímulos anteriores, los primeros en recibir los fondos podrían ser:

1. Contribuyentes con declaraciones de impuestos presentadas en los últimos años. En 2020, los cheques de estímulo se enviaron automáticamente a quienes habían presentado sus impuestos en los dos años previos.
2. People receiving benefits from Social Security or Veterans Affairs, similar to what happened with aid payments during the pandemic.
3. Citizens with low or moderate incomes, who have traditionally been a priority in economic assistance programs.
4. Families with dependent children, following the model of past incentives that granted additional payments for minors in their care.

How did the idea of the DOGE stimulus check come about?

The concept of a "DOGE Dividend" arose on February 14 when investor James Fishback proposed on social media that 20 of the 2 trillion in savings generated by DOGE be returned to taxpayers.

Musk, who has been promoting the government efficiency initiative, responded that he would consult with Trump about it. The next day, the president mentioned that he was considering the proposal.

Since then, the plan has gained attention, but it still faces significant legislative and economic challenges.

Will the checks be approved? Obstacles in Congress

Although Trump has shown interest in the idea, the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has expressed doubts about the viability of the plan.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Johnson pointed out that the proposal contradicts the fiscal responsibility principles of the Republicans, arguing that the money should be used to reduce the federal deficit instead of sending it to the citizens.

Politically it would be great, because everyone would receive a check," Johnson said ironically. "But we have a huge deficit and we need to pay the national debt.

Could this check generate inflation?

Several economists have warned that sending direct payments to taxpayers could increase inflation, a problem that already concerns the government due to recent tariff hikes and other economic policies.

Expert Judge Glock, from the Manhattan Institute, stated that this type of stimulus could boost consumption and generate inflationary pressures, which would be harmful in the current economic situation of the country.

However, Kevin Hassett, former director of Trump's National Economic Council, assured that the money would not be inflationary, as it would not come from new debts, but from savings already accounted for in the budget.

Will there be enough savings in DOGE to fund the checks?

One of the biggest problems with the proposal is that DOGE has not yet reached its savings goal of 2 trillion. So far, Musk has claimed that the agency has managed to save 55 billion, although recent reports suggest that the actual figure could be much lower.

Without these savings, the idea of the stimulus check becomes unlikely, as there would not be enough funds to distribute among taxpayers.

What’s next in the debate about DOGE checks?

The plan still needs to overcome several barriers before becoming a reality. Among the next steps are:

1. Confirmar si DOGE puede alcanzar la meta de ahorro de $2 billones.
2. Evaluar si el Congreso aprueba la propuesta, especialmente con la oposición de líderes republicanos.
3. Determinar el impacto económico del estímulo, incluyendo su efecto en la inflación y el déficit.

Por ahora, los cheques de $5,000 siguen siendo solo una propuesta, pero la administración Trump y Musk continúan explorando la viabilidad de la idea.