Donald Trump has announced a federal programme to compensate people who report fraud against the US government and taxpayers, saying he will personally decide who receives payment.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Vice-President JD Vance, who leads the administration’s fraud task force, Mr Trump said whistleblowers could receive 1 per cent of the fraud they reported, with no upper limit.
“I will be the arbitrator of all of these decisions,” he said. “In other words, I’ll determine whether or not the person is deserving and I’ll determine — and I will be very generous, believe me.”
Mr Trump said the scheme would be open to ordinary citizens and insisted that criminal charges would not be required before compensation was paid. He also said successful claimants would receive their money immediately.
“You’ll get your money immediately, but I’ll make the determination,” he said, adding that if two people claimed credit for the same report, he could decide whether to split the payment.
The government information page for the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Programme says successful whistleblowers can receive up to 30,000 dollars, depending on whether their report leads to criminal charges. Asked to clarify the apparent difference, Mr Trump said there would be no limit on compensation and that charges were not necessary.
Mr Vance responded to the exchange with a joke, saying: “That’s the answer. I quit while I’m ahead.”
First payment linked to Minnesota childcare allegations
The first person identified as benefiting from the programme is Nick Shirley, a YouTuber in his twenties who published a video alleging fraud at childcare centres in Minnesota. He appeared alongside Mr Trump in the Oval Office.
Reports are encrypted and sent to the Treasury Department, according to the government information page. The Department of Justice will administer the programme, although it was not immediately clear who would review the submissions.
Some whistleblowers can already seek compensation under the False Claims Act, which can provide between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of money recovered. Mr Vance said the law’s requirements were stringent and that “99%” of the fraud being identified was not covered by it.
Naomi Seligman, president of the non-profit organisation Whistleblower Aid, expressed scepticism about the announcement. She said Mr Trump was “more interested in hunting down whistleblowers”.
“If the president is truly interested in rooting out wrongdoing, Whistleblower Aid invites him to start by examining the violations perpetrated by his own administration, including senior officials,” she said. “We would happily work with him on this vital accountability effort to help save our democracy.”
