US President Donald Trump has unveiled a whistleblower incentive programme offering financial rewards to people who help expose fraud involving taxpayer money, saying eligible tipsters could receive a 1% commission on funds uncovered. “If you turn somebody in and you, let’s say report, and you find $1 billion, we are giving a commission to that person of 1%,” Trump said on Tuesday at the White House.
Speaking alongside Vice President JD Vance and independent journalist Nick Shirley in the Oval Office, Trump announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program as part of his administration’s wider crackdown on fraud in federal programmes.
However, the payout structure Trump described differs from an earlier account of the initiative. A White House official had initially described a $25 million programme administered by the Justice Department, with rewards of up to $30,000 for tips leading to a successful fraud conviction or significant federal enforcement action.
The official said an allegation alone would not qualify for a reward. Information submitted must lead to a successful conviction or a significant federal enforcement action.
Trump said Americans could report suspected theft of taxpayer funds through fraud.gov. He also said he would personally settle disputes over who should receive rewards when multiple people provide information. “I’ll make that determination. It’ll be done expeditiously and fairly.”
Vance said the programme followed discussions with Trump about...
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