Walmart stores across the United States are taking drastic measures as rumors swirl about a potential $5,000 payout to every American taxpayer, courtesy of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. The plan, tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to redistribute savings achieved by slashing federal spending.
Stores are boarding up windows and placing even the smallest items, like toothpaste and socks, behind locked glass cases, bracing for what some employees predict could be a frenzy unseen since the early days of the COVID-19 stimulus checks.
DOGE has already identified billions in wasteful spending, from bloated bureaucracies to questionable grants. Reports indicate DOGE’s audits uncovered $200 billion in potential savings, with plans to return a portion directly to taxpayers.
Walmart, anticipating a flood of cash-flush shoppers, isn’t taking any chances after witnessing past spending sprees.
“We saw it during the stimulus checks in 2020,” said Greg Tanner, a Walmart manager in the Pittsburgh region. “Televisions and gaming consoles vanished. Some bought, some just walked out the door. This time, we’re locking it all down.”
Tanner’s store has doubled its security staff and installed additional cameras since the announcement that DOGE may issues $5,000 checks.
Employees nationwide are clocking overtime to prepare. In Ohio, cashier Maria Lopez described the grueling shifts.
“We’ve been here past midnight bolting down cases and moving inventory,” she said. “They’re telling us it’s $5,000 per person. People are going to lose their minds over air fryers and flat-screens.”
Lopez noted that even the store’s garden section, typically a quiet corner, is now under lock and key.
Last month, Musk tweeted that DOGE could “cut the fat and give the meat back to the people,” sparking speculation about direct payments. If approved, the $5,000 checks could hit bank accounts by mid-2025, assuming the plan is approved by Congress without hesitation.
In Texas, assistant manager Jamal Carter offered a grim prediction. “Folks will buy anything when they’ve got that kind of cash burning a hole in their pocket,” he said.
“Last time, we sold out of inflatable pools in February. February!” Carter’s team has been tasked with reinforcing shelving units, expecting shoppers to swarm stores on the first day the checks are issued.
Critics argue it’s a reckless move, but DOGE proponents insist it’s a reward for taxpayers burdened by years of government excess. Walmart, meanwhile, is preparing for the worst-case scenario.
“They’re not wrong to worry,” said economist Rachel Kline of the Washington Wick Liberty Research Group. “Give every American $5,000, and you’ll see lines out the door for everything from lawnmowers to luxury handbags. Walmart knows what’s coming.”
Kline pointed to 2021 data showing retail sales spiked 18% after stimulus funds landed, a stat not lost on the retail giant.
Walmart’s corporate office declined to comment officially, but leaked memos suggest stores are stockpiling high-demand items in warehouses, ready to restock at a moment’s notice. Managers have been instructed to prioritize crowd control over customer service if the payouts materialize.
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