The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday announced a new pilot program to reward citizens who blow the whistle on fraud with up-front payments. The program supplements existing programs that reward whistleblowers after litigation concludes. On Monday, President Donald Trump presented what appears to be the first award from the program, a $10,000 check to citizen journalist Nick Shirley.
The DOJ described the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) — not to be confused with the White House Internship Program (also WHIP) — as “the first ever whistleblower rewards program that pays an up-front award for tips leading to criminal charges.”
“While most existing Government whistleblower rewards programs issue awards only after the final resolution of a criminal matter, including the forfeiture and appeals process, the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) rewards whistleblowers at a much earlier stage of prosecution,” it stated in a press release.
Under the False Claims Act, some whistleblowers can receive up to 25% or 30% of the recovered funds. However, they only receive the funds after a conviction is obtained and all appeals are heard — a process that can take years. Additionally, Vice President J.D. Vance said that most of the fraud his task force has uncovered would not be eligible under that program.
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