President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced a $25 million whistleblower initiative Tuesday aimed at encouraging Americans to report suspected fraud involving federal programs, with eligible tipsters able to receive rewards of up to $30,000.
The Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division will administer the program, which is designed to help investigators uncover criminal activity involving taxpayer-funded benefits and other federal programs. According to the White House, rewards will be available for qualifying information that leads to criminal charges and successful enforcement action.
The initiative, known as the Whistleblower Rewards Program, is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to combat fraud and improper payments across the federal government.
Under the program, simply submitting an allegation will not qualify someone for a payment. Tips must contain original, truthful and complete information, be submitted voluntarily and meet the program's eligibility requirements.
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How Trump's $25 Million Whistleblower Program Works
The Justice Department's program offers eligible whistleblowers rewards generally ranging from $10,000 to $30,000, according to the department's published guidance.
But Trump said on Tuesday that the commission will be one percent of the fraud reported - even if the fraud found is a billion dollars.
To qualify, individuals must provide information in writing that relates to specific categories of fraud and cooperate fully with investigators. The information must be original and lead to criminal charges in a covered area.
The program covers federal health care offenses and related crimes, as well as fraud involving government programs administered by agencies including the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Veterans Affairs and the Department of War, along with the Small Business Administration.
The Justice Department has highlighted hospice services, home health care, day care and special services fraud as particular areas of focus.
The program also distinguishes between whistleblowers who voluntarily report information and people who actively participated in the fraud. Individuals who actively participated in the misconduct are generally ineligible under the program's basic criteria.
The department says its approach is intended to reward actionable information earlier in an investigation, without requiring a case to result in substantial fines or forfeitures before a whistleblower can receive an award.
Trump Administration Expands Fraud Crackdown
The new initiative builds on the administration's broader campaign to identify suspected fraud involving federal funds.
Trump established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in March, with Vance serving as chairman. The task force was directed to coordinate federal agencies' efforts to detect fraud, strengthen eligibility checks and prevent improper payments.
The whistleblower program adds financial incentives for members of the public who can provide information that helps investigators pursue suspected criminal activity.
Americans can submit tips through the Justice Department's fraud reporting website, fraud.gov, according to the White House.
Nick Shirley to Receive $10,000 for Fraud Reporting
The White House also announced plans to present independent journalist Nick Shirley with a $10,000 check for his reporting on suspected fraud involving Minnesota child care centers.
Shirley attracted national attention in December 2025 after publishing a video questioning whether several Somali-run day care facilities in Minnesota were operating as legitimate businesses. His reporting showed apparently empty facilities and included interviews with people who said they had not seen children at the locations.
The White House credited Shirley's work with helping draw attention to the issue and prompting additional federal investigative resources to be directed toward Minnesota.
One facility highlighted in his reporting was Future Leaders Early Learning Center. Its former chief executive, Fahima Egeh Mahamud, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Prosecutors said Mahamud stole more than $4.6 million through false child care assistance claims and an additional $850,000 through a federal child nutrition program connected to the Feeding Our Future scandal.
The planned payment to Shirley underscores the administration's effort to encourage people outside traditional law enforcement agencies to help identify potential fraud.
What Happens to Fraud Tips?
The Justice Department says whistleblowers must provide original information voluntarily and cooperate fully to be considered for an award. The information must relate to a covered offense and lead to criminal charges in one of the program's specified areas.
The department also warns that not every report will qualify for payment. Eligibility depends on the information supplied, its timeliness and originality, and whether it meets the program's requirements.
The initiative is intended to help the government identify suspected fraud earlier, potentially limiting losses to taxpayer-funded programs while giving qualifying whistleblowers a clearer path to rewards.
Further details about eligibility, confidentiality protections and the process for assessing submissions are available in the Justice Department's Whistleblower Rewards Program guidance.