US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday unveiled a $25 million initiative aimed at encouraging Americans to report suspected fraud involving federal government programs and taxpayer money.
The Justice Department will oversee the initiative. “It’ll be a binding arbitration. Under the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, tipsters whose information leads to a fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action could receive up to $30,000, the White House said. Announcing the program at the White House, Trump said rewards would be calculated as a 1% commission on the amount of fraud uncovered through a tip.
He also said he would personally decide who receives the money when multiple people claim credit for reporting the same case. “I will be the arbitrator of all of these decisions,” Trump said. Trump also said journalists could participate in the program.
Trump steps up campaign against government fraud
The initiative is part of Trump’s broader push to crack down on fraud involving government funds. In March, the Republican president established a task force to tackle the issue and placed Vance in charge of the effort. It is stopping.
Earlier reporting noted: Trump and Vance announce $25M whistleblower program to encourage public to report alleged fraud WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday announced a $25 million program to encourage the public to blow the whistle on suspected fraud in the U.S. government as they ramp up efforts to end the abuse of federal programs and dollars. Earlier reporting noted: The White House said that under the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, or WHIP, anyone who submits a tip to fraud.gov that leads to a fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action is eligible to receive up to $30,000, and that the Justice Department will administer the program. Earlier reporting noted: During the announcement, Trump said payments will work out to a 1% commission on the dollar amount of fraud the tip helps uncover.
“The president has said it must stop. And if you want to help us stop it, you get to share in the rewards,” the vice president said. Trump also said he will decide who gets to collect reward money in cases where more than one person claims to have provided the tip.
