On October 20, 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the creation of the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP), which the government describes as “the first ever whistleblower rewards program that pays an up-front award for tips leading to criminal charges.”
According to the DOJ’s press release, WHIP will pay whistleblowers an award of $10,000 to $30,000 for information leading to criminal charges relating to certain subject areas including federal healthcare offenses and related crimes, fraud on government programs and benefits administered by the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Veterans Affairs, War, and the Small Business Administration. The announcement stated that for fraud involving healthcare offenses, the program will prioritize submissions involving hospice, home health care, day care, and special services fraud.
The Trump Administration announced that the first recipient of an award under WHIP will be right-wing blogger Nick Shirley, who the Administration says exposed fraud related to federally funded day care centers in Minnesota. Many of Shirley’s allegations are disputed, although an individual who appeared in one of Shirley’s videos pleaded guilty to fraud earlier this year.
When asked why the administration felt this new program was necessary in light of already-existing whistleblower laws such as the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA), Vice President J.D. Vance stated that “[o]ver 99% of the fraud that we’re finding in the federal government isn’t covered by the False Claims Act.” It also appears that the WHIP program is intended to cover tips leading to criminal convictions, whereas the FCA offers whistleblower bounties for civil settlements and judgments. The DOJ’s press release also states that the program’s “early-stage rewards encourage prompt disclosure of information by giving whistleblowers more certainty about the amount and timing of a possible reward payment, while still leaving whistleblowers eligible for potentially larger rewards should their tips ultimately lead to large financial penalties or forfeiture. This new framework gives whistleblowers much-needed certainty and speed, and will incentivize citizens who are aware of fraud to report it.”
The DOJ press release makes clear that awards under the new program “will be made in the Justice Department’s sole discretion.”
GWB represents businesses and individuals in connection with government investigations and False Claims Act litigation. If you need assistance with such a matter, contact us today.
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