Who qualifies for the $2,000 payment?
The idea was first floated back in July, but picked up real momentum towards the end of the year.
The plan proved popular among many Americans, who are eager for a little cash boost before 2026 arrives.
However, many believe that the proposal is just a little too expensive.
Previously speaking to Fox News, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that it ‘remained in discussion’ who exactly qualifies for the payment.
Despite many republicans backing the President and his plans for the monetary gift, others in the party are not fond of the idea.
Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin warned last month that the country ‘can’t afford’ the $2,000 payment.
How is the $2,000 payment being funded?
The President previously noted that ‘tariff’ was his favorite word, and that’s exactly how the checks are allegedly being funded.
Speaking about tariffs in a post on his Truth Social platform on November 9, the President said: “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!
“We are taking in trillions of dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion.
“Record investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place.
“A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”
But that’s not the update.
While the expected payment date has previously shifted several times, there has also been discussion about the form the payments will take.
How will Americans receive it?
Aside from the major update, Bessent previously noted that the payment could be received in numerous ways.
He said: “It could come in lots of forms, in lots of ways.
“You know, it could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president’s agenda.
“You know, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, deductibility of auto loans. So, you know, those are substantial deductions.”
Through the first three quarters of the year, the Treasury Department allegeldy cashed in $195 billion in tariff duties, according to its financial report from September.
‘I’ll believe it when I see it’
It seems many Americans are not hopeful the payment will ever land.
One said: “How many times are they gonna promise this without ever delivering it?”
As another added: “I don’t want a dividend. I want fiscally responsible government that stops eroding my wealth.”
A third noted: “Sure, on top of all the other announcements that will never happen.”
“Yeah I’ll believe it when I see it,” a fourth wrote.
But National Economic Council Director, Kevin Hassett, has since issued a major update.
He shared that his perspective on the reality of the $2,000 payment being issued has changed quite significantly.
The major update
Speaking to CBS, he said: “We’ve had a couple of quarters of almost 4% growth, we’ve got a big government surplus actually running for a few months in a row, the deficit relative to last year is down by $600 billion.
“And so, in the summer, I wasn’t so sure that there was space for a check like that
“But now I’m pretty sure that there is.”
Speaking of some kind of concrete plan, he added: “I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen.”