Trump and Vance Announce $25 Million Fraud Tip Program

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced a $25 million federal whistleblower program on October 20, offering eligible tipsters rewards generally ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for information about certain fraud that leads to specified enforcement outcomes. The Justice Department will administer the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP. The department says awards can be made when original, qualifying information leads to criminal charges or a significant federal enforcement action, and may be paid earlier than the conclusion of a criminal case. The program covers specified federal health-care offenses and fraud involving government benefits. The Justice Department identified hospice, home-health, daycare and special-services fraud as priorities. Tips can be submitted through fraud.gov, according to the administration. At the Oval Office announcement, Trump described rewards as a 1% commission on fraud uncovered and said he would arbitrate competing claims for credit. Those remarks differ in scope from the program terms described by the administration, which generally cap individual awards at $30,000. The Justice Department’s published...