Most Securities and Exchange Commission observers expect Wall Street insider and new SEC Chair Paul Atkins to bring a light-touch approach to regulation and enforcement but maintain the agency’s core mission to protect investors by promoting fairness and efficiency in the markets.
Whistleblowers have played an increasingly important role in enhancing and expediting the SEC’s work. Atkins should preserve and enhance the SEC’s whistleblower program to benefit the agency and protect the markets.
Established in response to the serial misconduct by large corporations and financial institutions that led to the 2008 financial crisis, the SEC whistleblower program empowers individuals to report violations of federal securities laws, with significant incentives and employment protections.
Tips that lead to a successful enforcement action, and where monetary penalties exceed $1 million, may generate rewards between 10% to 30% of the total amount collected. Rewards don’t come from taxpayer dollars—they’re paid for by a fund financed by penalties levied against securities law violators. The program, in other words, pays for itself.
And it has been an unmitigated success. The SEC last reported total awards exceeded $2.2 billion. Monetary sanctions from actions started or substantially assisted by whistleblowers are on track to surpass an...
Date: April 19, 2025 As Richmond County authorities continue to defend jailing a woman who was shot in the face, new details are emerging about the alleged violence and lies that put her behind ba...