Trump Whistleblower Program: $25M Fraud Tip Rewards (2026)
Trump and Vance's $25 million fraud whistleblower program, announced Oct. 20, 2026: what Trump said, what the rules pay, and how to submit a tip.
The Trump whistleblower program is a fraud tip program that President Trump and Vice President Vance announced on October 20, 2026. The Hill and the Associated Press (AP) describe it as a $25 million program. Trump described a "1 percent commission" with "no limit," The Hill reported. The written U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) rules allow $10,000 to $30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges, at DOJ's discretion.
Tips go through the reporting portal at america.gov/fraud. The written DOJ guidance sets who qualifies, how much is paid and when payment happens.
Trump's Fraud Whistleblower Program in Brief
Under written DOJ guidance, President Trump's fraud whistleblower program pays an individual $10,000 to $30,000 for each distinct tip that leads to federal criminal charges. Trump said in the Oval Office that tipsters would get a "1 percent commission" and that there is "no limit," according to The Hill. The DOJ guidance leaves the amount to the Department's sole discretion. That decision cannot be appealed. Anyone can submit a tip through america.gov/fraud.
News reports call it the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program. DOJ's official name is the National Fraud Enforcement Division Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program. The DOJ program page titles it the Whistleblower Rewards Program. The pilot has an initial three-year term.
What Trump and Vance Said
Trump and Vance announced the program in the Oval Office on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, The Hill and AP reported.
According to The Hill, Trump made these statements:
- Tipsters would get a "1 percent commission" on a tip that leads to a successful conviction.
- Anyone can submit a tip through America.gov/fraud.
- He would act as "binding" arbitrator when more than one person claims the same award.
- There is "no limit" on what a person can receive, and people "will make millions."
- Money will be paid "if we recover the money."
AP reported that Trump described payouts as a "1% commission" on the fraud a tip uncovers. NBC News reported he said he would be the "arbitrator" of award decisions.
Vance said people who want to help stop fraud "get to share in the rewards now," The Hill reported. Vance chairs the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Trump created that task force in March 2026 through a White House executive order.
What the Written DOJ Rules Say
The written DOJ guidance and the america.gov/fraud portal set different terms than the ones Trump described.
| Topic | What Trump said (as reported) | What the portal and DOJ guidance say |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | A "1 percent commission" on a tip that leads to a conviction (The Hill) | The portal says up to $30,000 if a report leads to criminal charges. DOJ guidance sets $10,000 to $30,000 per distinct tip. |
| Limit | "No limit," and people "will make millions" (The Hill) | Up to $30,000 per distinct tip. DOJ decides whether tips are distinct or related. |
| When paid | Paid "if we recover the money" (The Hill) | At or around the time criminal charges are filed and unsealed. No wait for a guilty plea, sentencing or appeals. |
| Who decides | Trump as "binding" arbitrator (The Hill) | DOJ, in its sole discretion. The decision is not appealable and not subject to judicial review. |
| How to submit | Anyone, through America.gov/fraud (The Hill) | The america.gov/fraud portal. DOJ may deny an award solely because a tip did not come through it. |
The Hill noted the gap between the website's $30,000 figure and Trump's "no limit" remark. NBC News reported it is unclear how Trump's role as decider squares with DOJ running the program. The written DOJ guidance governs submissions, and it may change.
The Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division runs the program. DOJ cites 28 U.S.C. § 530C(b)(1)(L) as its legal authority, a law that lets the Department pay rewards for assistance in its sole discretion.
The First Payout
The Hill reported that the first award apparently went to YouTuber Nick Shirley. Shirley joined Trump and Vance in the Oval Office, according to The Hill. The Hill also reported that Fox News said Shirley would receive $10,000. AP reported that no check was given to Shirley in the presence of journalists.
Shirley became known for a 2025 video about alleged fraud at Minnesota childcare programs, according to AP. AP reported that inspectors found the centers they examined operating as expected.
How to Submit a Tip and Qualify
You submit a tip through america.gov/fraud, and you qualify for a reward only if your information leads to unsealed criminal charges. Those charges can be an indictment, an information or a criminal complaint.
The program covers two groups of fraud. The first is federal health care offenses, including fraud on health care benefit programs or against patients. The second is fraud on programs run by these agencies:
- The Department of Agriculture, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- The Department of Labor, such as unemployment fraud.
- The Department of Education, such as student aid fraud.
- Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, the Department of War and the Small Business Administration.
DOJ lists hospice, home health care, day care subsidy and special services fraud such as autism care as priority areas. The fraud may first hit a state, local or tribal program. It still counts if a federal program ultimately bears some loss. No minimum loss applies, so a tip about a failed scheme can qualify if it leads to charges.
Follow these steps to submit:
- Match the fraud to a covered program. See how to report Medicare and Medicaid fraud or food stamp fraud.
- Write down what you know firsthand. "Original" means from your own knowledge or analysis. Information repeated from court filings or news does not count.
- Decide about anonymity. To stay anonymous, you must submit through an attorney who certifies your identity. If you file yourself, you must include contact information. You do not need a lawyer to submit.
- File through the portal. The portal says reports are encrypted and a name is optional, though a reward requires contact information. You can attach up to 5 documents or photos. You get a reference number and can download a copy.
- Report early. DOJ says tips must be timely so charges can be brought within the statute of limitations.
- Cooperate with DOJ. Before any award is paid, you must disclose your identity and DOJ must verify it.
The portal sends reports to the Treasury Department. Treasury reviews each report and routes it to the federal office best placed to act. The portal lists more than 20 offices, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation. Fraud.gov redirects to the White House "Fraud Ledger" page, which links to the same portal.
These people do not qualify:
- Companies. Only individuals can receive an award.
- DOJ or law-enforcement officials, employees or contractors, and their close relatives or household members.
- Foreign government officials.
- People who directed, planned, initiated or knowingly profited from the crime. A minimal role is an exception.
- People who lie to or obstruct DOJ.
Information that compliance officers, internal auditors, company officers and outside investigators learn in that role generally does not count as "original." Limited exceptions include imminent harm to patients, or 120 days after reporting internally. DOJ can permanently bar a person after three or more frivolous or fraudulent submissions. The fraud whistleblower incentive program guide covers the full rules.
Fraud outside these categories should still be reported, since a tip may still help uncover a covered crime and a person may qualify under another program. Non-fraud crimes go to local police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Open Questions About the Trump Whistleblower Program
One open question in the Trump whistleblower program is the gap between Trump's statements and DOJ's written rules. Trump described a 1 percent commission with no limit, according to The Hill. DOJ caps each distinct tip at $30,000. The Hill reported that Trump said he would decide disputed awards, while DOJ guidance gives that power to the Department alone.
Retaliation protection is limited. You can report retaliation in your submission or a follow-up. DOJ may weigh it against a company's cooperation credit and may take enforcement action. The guidance says it creates no enforceable rights, so it does not give a whistleblower a lawsuit for retaliation. Read about workplace retaliation rights.
Confidentiality also has limits. DOJ will not publicly disclose information that could reasonably reveal a tipster's identity. Exceptions apply where law or Department policy requires it, or where a defendant must receive it in a court or administrative proceeding. DOJ may share information with other law-enforcement agencies.
The pilot runs for an initial three-year term. Watch the DOJ whistleblower page for rule updates.
Other Ways Whistleblowers Get Paid
A DOJ fraud tip reward does not stop a person from receiving later payments under other government whistleblower programs. DOJ names its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program as one example. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) runs a separate whistleblower program.
The False Claims Act pays whistleblowers a percentage of recoveries. Past outcomes appear in the whistleblower settlements guide. The whistleblower hub lists each program.
A lawyer also matters for anonymity, since an anonymous tip must come through an attorney. You can get matched with a whistleblower or qui tam lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trump's whistleblower program?
Trump's whistleblower program is a fraud tip program that President Trump and Vice President Vance announced on October 20, 2026. News reports describe it as a $25 million program. DOJ's National Fraud Enforcement Division runs it as a three-year pilot. It pays individuals whose tips about fraud on federal programs lead to criminal charges.
How much do you get paid for being a whistleblower under Trump's program?
Written DOJ guidance pays $10,000 to $30,000 for each distinct tip that leads to criminal charges. Payment comes at or around the time charges are filed and unsealed. Trump described a "1 percent commission," according to The Hill. The written guidance governs submissions.
Is there really no limit on Trump's fraud whistleblower reward?
Trump said there is "no limit," The Hill reported. The america.gov/fraud portal says a reporter may be eligible for up to $30,000. DOJ guidance sets $30,000 as the top award per distinct tip, at its sole discretion.
How do I submit a fraud tip to the Trump administration?
Submit through the portal at america.gov/fraud. Include contact information if you want a reward. You can attach up to 5 documents or photos and receive a reference number. DOJ may deny an award solely because a tip did not come through the portal.
Who got the first payout from Trump's whistleblower program?
The Hill reported that the first award apparently went to YouTuber Nick Shirley. The Hill said Fox News reported Shirley would receive $10,000. AP reported that no check was given to Shirley in front of journalists.
Who qualifies as a whistleblower for this program?
An individual qualifies by voluntarily giving original, truthful and complete information in writing and cooperating with DOJ. The information must lead to unsealed criminal charges. Companies, DOJ and law-enforcement personnel and their close relatives, and meaningful participants in the crime do not qualify.
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