A Smarter Way to Do the DOGE Check
Why America should invest agency savings into a National Wealth Fund—paying real dividends to the people
There’s been a lot of buzz around the so-called “DOGE check”—a proposed one-time payout to Americans, funded by cuts to federal agencies. While the name is flashy and the idea of direct payments is politically resonant, this approach, as currently framed, is deeply flawed. Handing out short-term checks without a long-term plan only deepens inequality and misses the opportunity to build something enduring.
But what if we took the core concept—returning savings from government streamlining to the people—and made it smarter, fairer, and future-proof?
That’s the promise of a National Wealth Fund: a publicly owned investment fund seeded by those very same DOGE-designated cuts, but designed to generate real returns for all Americans—not just once, but every year.
From Spending to Sovereignty
Rather than funneling savings from agency eliminations into fleeting one-time checks, we propose directing those funds into a National Wealth Fund (NWF). This fund would be professionally managed, transparently governed, and designed to grow over time—similar to successful models in Alaska and Norway.
The returns from the fund would then be distributed annually to every U.S. adult in the form of a Freedom Dividend—a modest but meaningful cash payment with no strings attached. It’s not a welfare program or a tax rebate. It’s a dividend—because Americans deserve a share of the wealth we all help create.
This approach aligns economic freedom with shared ownership. It honors the spirit of the DOGE proposal—getting money to the people—but grounds it in fiscal sustainability and long-term public value.
Backed by Climate Justice
Even more powerful? Over time, the fund can grow beyond its initial seed capital.
By introducing Environmental Resource Fees—charges levied on carbon emissions, extractive industries, and pollution—we can ensure that those who profit from depleting our shared natural resources pay into a system that benefits everyone.
Polluters pay in. People get paid out.
This creates a loop: responsible stewardship funds equitable dividends, and the fund itself encourages clean innovation and climate accountability.
A Plan is Already in Motion
The groundwork for a sovereign wealth fund has already been laid. On February 8, 2025, the White House issued a formal directive:
“The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, in close coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, shall develop a plan for the establishment of a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund.”
(Source: whitehouse.gov)
This isn’t speculation—it’s a live policy conversation. What we do next matters.
Will we allow agency cuts to fund short-term optics?
Or will we invest that money into a long-term institution that pays the public—not just once, but for generations?
What You Can Do
Tell the Trump Administration that if we're going to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund, it must serve the people—not just the markets.
📢 Contact:
📬 Message:
SUBJECT: Policy Input on National Wealth Fund Design – Attention: Secretary Bessent
Dear [Secretary, Senator, Representative, or Director]: A more effective alternative to the proposed DOGE stimulus is to use federal savings to capitalize a National Wealth Fund, distribute an annual Freedom Dividend to every American, and allow the fund to grow over time through future appropriations or responsible mechanisms. Rather than issuing a one-time payment, this approach invests in a long-term asset that delivers ongoing value, strengthens household stability, and reinforces the principle that all citizens should share in the nation's prosperity. It is not enough to simply issue the DOGE check—we should take this opportunity to do it smarter. Sincerely yours.