Americans who submit tips on misuse of public funds can receive up to $30,000, a White House official said.
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President Donald Trump is introducing a new program just before the midterm elections, proposing payments of up to $30,000 for fraud tips that lead to a successful prosecution or government enforcement action, according to a White House official.
Administered by the Department of Justice, the $25 million Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program joins two efforts that Trump has seized on in his midterm campaign assault: combatting fraud and distributing government funds directly to Americans. The President intends to announce the program during an Oct. 20 event at the White House.
According to a story by the Epoch Times, the program was created to reward Americans who help expose misuse of public funds.
“Every day, President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is zeroing in on the rampant abuse of taxpayer dollars and giving Americans the accountability they deserve,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told The Epoch Times in a statement.
“This administration has zero tolerance for individuals who steal from Americans.”
President Trump announced a new federal fraud whistleblower incentive program that he says will pay Americans, including journalists, a 1% commission for reporting fraud and corruption involving taxpayer dollars. "If you turn somebody in and you, let’s say, report, and you find $1 billion, we are giving a commission to that person of 1%. It’s a lot of money," Trump said.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 20, 2026
Individuals, under the initiative, who provide tips that end up in a successful fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action will be eligible to get up to $30,000, the official said.
Americans will be able to submit tips online at fraud.gov., in a program managed by the Department of Justice.
As part of Tuesday’s Oval Office announcement, Trump was scheduled to present independent reporter Nick Shirley with a $10,000 check in recognition of his efforts to uncover alleged fraud at daycare facilities in Minnesota.
Last year, Shirley shared a video in December showing empty daycare centers and spoke with people nearby who said they had never seen children at those facilities. The video went viral, leading to several investigations, arrests, and new charges by law enforcement.
In July, Fahima Mahamud, who appeared in Shirley’s video, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government as part of the Feeding Our Future scandal.
