President Trump launches whistleblower incentive program for government fraud

On October 20, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the establishment of a new 'Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program' from the Oval Office. The initiative aims to reward citizens who report fraud within government programs, with the U.S. Treasury allocating 25 million dollars to support the effort.

There is a discrepancy regarding the reward structure: President Trump stated that participants could receive a 1% commission on the total amount of reported fraud and claimed he would act as the final arbiter of these decisions. Conversely, the U.S. Department of Justice specified that informants will receive fixed payments ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 dollars for information that leads to the filing of formal criminal charges, noting that rewards remain at the department's discretion.

The first recipient of the program is 24-year-old conservative YouTuber and Trump supporter Nick Shirley. Officials cited a viral video created by Shirley, which alleged fraudulent activity in certain daycare centers in Minnesota, as the basis for the inaugural 10,000 dollar payment.