Trump Suggests He Would Arbitrate Competing Fraud Tips Under New DOJ Reward Program
President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that he would serve as "the arbitrator" when several people submit tips about the same alleged fraud under a new Justice Department reward program. He made the remark at an Oval Office announcement alongside Vice President JD Vance.
The program is the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP. A Justice Department press release says it will pay whistleblowers, meaning people who report wrongdoing, an award of $10,000 to $30,000 for information that leads to criminal charges. The Justice Department is the federal agency that brings criminal cases on behalf of the government.
The Guardian reported that the program offers up to $30,000 for tips in the "charging stage of a criminal case." A Justice Department web page for the program says the department has "sole discretion" in issuing rewards. Vance's official Facebook account said eligible tipsters could receive up to $30,000 if their information leads to a successful fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action.
Trump told the Oval Office audience that whistleblowers would receive 1% of the fraud uncovered and could make "millions and millions" of dollars. The Justice Department's website describes the reward as limited to $30,000.
Vance said the program differs from the False Claims Act, a federal law under which private whistleblowers can file suit on the government's behalf and share in recovered money. Under that law, whistleblowers receive 15% to 25% of financial penalties when the government intervenes and prosecutes the case. Vance said more than 99% of federal government fraud is not covered by the False Claims Act.
Vance said the program was created to encourage more people to report fraud like that exposed by Nick Shirley, a conservative influencer who accused Somali-run childcare centers in Minnesota of fraud earlier this year.
The program sits within a broader effort. In March 2026, Trump signed a presidential action establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which Vance leads. That order cites the Feeding our Future scheme, which the White House described as having stolen nearly $250 million intended to feed needy children in Minnesota.
When the Guardian asked whether Trump's claim about being the arbitrator was accurate, the White House referred it to the president's Oval Office comments.
