WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced a $25 million program Tuesday that will pay people up to $30,000 for tips that lead to a fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action, according to The Associated Press.
The Justice Department will run the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP, and tips go through fraud.gov, the White House said.
At an Oval Office event with Vice President JD Vance, Trump added a second payout. Tipsters could also get a 1 percent commission on money the government recovers, the New York Post reported.
“$100 billion, you get a 1% commission, and I think that will be amazing,” Trump said.
Trump also named himself to settle fights over who filed a tip first.
“So I am going to do something which I think people will like. I will be the arbitrator of all of these decisions.”
The first payment went to Nick Shirley, a conservative influencer whose video last year said members of Minnesota’s Somali community were running fake childcare centers to collect federal subsidies, according to The Associated Press. Trump presented Shirley a $10,000 check at the event.
Inspectors said the centers in Shirley’s video were operating as expected, The Associated Press reported. Investigations, searches and arrests followed the video.
Trump set up a task force on fraud in March and put Vance in charge of it. Vance has led the administration’s anti-fraud effort since then.
“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 spokesperson Lauren Bis said, according to The Associated Press. “This administration has zero tolerance for individuals who steal from Americans.”
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