What happened
US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the Treasury Department is assessing a proposal to distribute $5,000 checks, according to a report from Cailianshe.
The report, carried by East Money Information, gave no further details on the proposal's scope, eligibility or timing.
Why it matters
The statement signals that a large direct-payment idea is at least under internal review at the Treasury, though the source material does not indicate how far that review has progressed.
Because no design details were provided, it is not yet possible to judge the fiscal cost or who would receive the payments.
Key facts
US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the Treasury Department is evaluating a proposal to issue $5,000 checks.
The report was published by East Money Information on 2026-09-15, citing Cailianshe.
What to watch next
Whether the Treasury provides further detail on the proposal, such as eligibility criteria, total cost or a timeline.
Any official confirmation or denial that would clarify the status of the review.