Federal authorities have received thousands of fraud tips since President Trump announced a $25 million reward program for whistleblowers, according to a Department of Justice official. The program is aimed at uncovering fraud against U.S. taxpayers through financial incentives for people who provide useful information.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance unveiled the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program on Tuesday. The White House described it as its latest initiative to crack down on fraud and waste involving the federal government.

Eligible tips must involve fraud targeting government programs and benefits. The program allows qualifying whistleblowers to receive money when their information produces law enforcement activity, giving tipsters a direct financial stake in exposing schemes.

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Tipsters Eligible for up to $30,000 in Fast-Track Payments “Protecting the American people from fraud remains a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said @AGToddBlanche. “The Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) offers everyone the opportunity to be part of the solution, help expose fraud, and be rewarded quickly for their efforts. I urge all Americans to use this program and play an active role in bringing fraudsters to justice.” : https://t.co/QVCZIMui8Q — U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) October 20, 2026

Colin M. McDonald, first assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, discussed the early response during an appearance on “NewsNation Prime” this week. His division is responsible for administering the new incentive program.

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“No one else has been willing to put their skin in the game like President Trump to ensure that fraudsters are held accountable,” McDonald said.

McDonald said federal authorities have collected thousands of tips since Trump announced the $25 million initiative. The reported influx came after the president offered financial rewards to people who report fraud being committed against American taxpayers.

Under the program described by McDonald, tipsters could receive upfront payments when their information leads to law enforcement activity. That requirement connects the initial reward to action by authorities rather than merely the submission of an allegation.

Whistleblowers may also receive a potential 1% commission based on the scope of the fraud scheme they expose. McDonald presented that commission as an additional incentive beyond the upfront payment tied to resulting law enforcement activity.

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The program applies specifically to fraud against government benefits and programs. That eligibility standard places taxpayer-funded operations at the center of the initiative announced by Trump and Vance.

Trump has also addressed how the administration could handle competing claims involving the same information. The president said he would serve as an “arbitrator” if more than one person attempted to claim a reward for the same tip.

That provision would place Trump in the role of resolving disputes among people seeking payment for identical information. The president did not describe a different decision maker for those competing reward claims in the program details presented.

McDonald’s National Fraud Enforcement Division is itself newly formed. He said the division recently reached its 200th day in operation while discussing the whistleblower initiative and the thousands of tips received by federal authorities.

The DOJ official was also asked whether his division is participating in the reported federal investigation involving U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. McDonald declined to disclose whether the National Fraud Enforcement Division has any role in that matter.

“I’m not going to get into any ongoing investigations or confirm or deny any angles to any ongoing investigations,” McDonald said.

His response left the division’s possible involvement in the reported Omar investigation unconfirmed. McDonald confined his public comments to the division’s work, the new reward program and the general rules surrounding ongoing investigations.

The administration’s program combines upfront compensation with the possibility of a 1% commission for qualifying information. Both forms of payment depend on tips concerning fraud against government programs or benefits, with the upfront reward requiring resulting law enforcement activity.

For now, the clearest early measure is the reported volume of public submissions. According to McDonald, thousands of tips have reached federal authorities since Trump announced that $25 million would be available to financially reward whistleblowers who help expose fraud against taxpayers.

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