Last week, we discussed our transformed and renamed Federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which, under the leadership of Elon Musk, is charged with slashing waste, fraud, and abuse from federal expenditures. In recent days, the recreated Department has identified more than $65 Billion (9 zeros) of expense boondoggles for termination. Musk and his minions are barely out of the starting gate. They are aiming for a minimum of $1 Trillion (12 zeros) in permanent cuts to the budget.

Recently, Musk proposed rebating of a portion of DOGE savings to taxpayers by sending every taxpayer (defined as a person or married couple who file one tax return) $5,000. Last week, I explained why I am totally against the concept of a DOGE-created refund. My reasoning was made clear in Part 1 of this Blog Post on our website, which everyone should read before passing judgement.

Rather than merely complaining to our audiences, I offer a separate proposal, right here in Part 2 of this Blog miniseries. We the People of this magnificent country are in possession of assets of value nearly beyond comprehension. Included are 2.27 billion acres of land, which represents about 27% of the U.S. total land mass. Of that, the vast majority is in the Western states, which account for approximately 92% of Federal Government land ownership.

On top and underneath our billions of acres lie countless natural resources, with potential value in trillions of dollars. Throughout decades of growth in the environmental movement, most of these lands have been rendered off limits to miners, drillers, and other entities seeking to turn natural resource assets into streams of revenue. Under our new “Trump Administration 2.0,” federal lands (and some bodies of water) are being opened (and reopened) for exploration and productive applications. Some forested acres will also become available for lumber production. All this will be closely monitored by the new EPA.

Since national assets belong to us (as citizens of the USA), we should rightly share in the profits derived from production and sale of energy and minerals. My proposal would pay a portion of proceeds to taxpayer/owners for the value of their resources as sold, similar to the DOGE proposal that I do not support.

As a bonus, the U.S. would also restore our national position of energy independence and dominance. One obvious side effect would be reduction of costs for energy, building materials, food, and so on. As transportation costs are reduced, every American reaps a benefit.

Americans have been suffering the ravages of government-induced inflation for several years, so we could all use the money. However, doling out borrowed money to taxpayers fails to pass the smell test regarding the National Debt. My concept accomplishes the dual goals of debt reduction and taxpayer compensation, with fairness to all.