WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced a $25 million whistleblower incentive program Tuesday, offering Americans cash rewards for helping uncover fraud involving federal taxpayer dollars as the administration expands its crackdown on government waste.
The initiative would offer rewards of up to $30,000 for tips leading to fraud convictions or significant federal enforcement actions, although Trump also suggested larger payments could be available for exposing major fraud schemes.
"The kind of money that's been stolen is trillions from this country," Trump said during an Oval Office announcement.
The president floated the idea of awarding whistleblowers a 1% commission on fraud they help uncover, potentially creating substantial financial incentives for reporting wrongdoing.
"If anybody turns anybody in, a billion dollars, five billion dollars, 100 billion, you get a one percent commission," Trump said, calling it potentially the largest commission ever paid.
The announcement also put a spotlight on independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose viral reporting on suspected fraud involving publicly funded programs in Minnesota attracted national attention.
Shirley's videos raised questions about whether some organizations receiving taxpayer funding were providing the services they claimed. His reporting included visits to child care facilities, where he questioned the apparent lack of children and examined how public...
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