Trump and Vance launch $25 million program paying tipsters who report fraud
People who report fraud involving federal money could receive up to $30,000. Trump said he will help decide who gets paid and floated a 1% cut of any fraud uncovered.
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President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance unveiled a reward program for whistleblowers in the Oval Office on Tuesday. The $25 million Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program will be administered by the Justice Department. Tips submitted through fraud.gov that lead to a fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action could earn the tipster up to $30,000, The Associated Press reported. A tip alone does not guarantee a payout.
Trump went beyond the stated cap in his remarks, describing a commission of roughly 1% of the fraud uncovered: "a billion dollars, five billion dollars, 100 billion." It was not explained how that squares with the $30,000 limit. When several people claim the same tip, Trump said he would decide himself: "I will be the arbitrator of all these decisions." Journalists will also be eligible. His claim that the administration has uncovered $260 billion in fraud has not been independently verified.
Vance has led an anti-fraud task force since March. "Your tax dollars are being stolen," he said. Conservative influencer Nick Shirley, whose viral video alleged sham child care centers in Minnesota, was honored at the event. According to the AP, inspectors found the centers shown were operating as expected, though investigations and arrests followed. How tips will be vetted and rewards distributed remains unclear, two weeks before the midterm elections.