2026-09-1617brief

[UPDATE] Treasury is studying if Trump's $5,000 checks can go out without Congress

Scott Bessent said the checks will not add debt but would not say how.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a House panel the checks can avoid new debt, but would not say how to pay for them.

On Sept. 13, Howard Lutnick proposed funding Trump's $5,000 dividend by charging $5 million for certain visas.

Key details on the checks and budget impact:

  • Paying each adult would cost about $1.3 trillion, or over three times yearly tariff revenue.
  • The plan comes as US debt tops $40 trillion.