President Trump unveiled the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program today, empowering everyday Americans to report corruption and theft of taxpayer dollars in exchange for a 1% commission on recovered funds. The announcement came during a White House event honoring citizen journalist Nick Shirley, whose investigations into fraud in Minnesota exposed billions in stolen benefits.
A Nationwide Call to Expose Fraud
"Today, I'm thrilled to announce the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program," President Trump declared. "Americans will now be able to go to Fraud.gov and report cases of corruption and theft of taxpayer dollars in their communities." The program, created by Joe Gebbia and the National Design Studio, allows anyone—including journalists—to submit evidence of fraud and receive a 1% commission on amounts recovered.
"Anybody that can prove that he turns somebody in... if you turn somebody in and you, let's say, report and you find a billion dollars, we are giving a commission to that person of 1%," Trump explained. He noted that even reporters could participate with approval from their outlets, because "you know a lot of things that are happening."
Citizen Journalism Sparks a Revolution
The program builds on the work of Nick Shirley, a 24-year-old YouTube journalist who exposed a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota's Somali community. "Nick used his popular YouTube channel to reveal that the Somali community... in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was stealing billions and billions of dollars of taxpayer money through fraudulent child care centers," Trump said.
Shirley's reporting led to 115 arrests, 75 convictions, and over 2,700 subpoenas in Minnesota alone. "It took one brave kid and a camera to make everyone aware of this, and it launched a revolution," said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, who leads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud with Vice President J.D. Vance.
Taxpayers Rewarded for Fighting Back
Vice President Vance emphasized the new incentive: "Your tax dollars are being stolen... And if you want to help us stop it, you get to share the rewards now." He credited the President for conceiving the commission idea during a conversation about enlisting citizens in the fight against fraud.
"Finally, people have an incentive to actually go out and expose fraud," Shirley said. "When you expose fraud, you help save America."
Results and Presidential Push for Legislation
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz announced $1.2 billion in deferred Medicaid payments to California, citing unsustainable growth in personal care services. He also revealed that a third of Minnesota providers in high-risk areas were invalid.
Trump is pushing Congress to pass mandatory minimum sentences for benefits fraud and civil liability for state officials who fail to stop fraud. "If you steal from the American people, you should go to jail," Ferguson said.
The White House launched Fraud.gov, where reports are encrypted and sent directly to the appropriate federal agency. Americans may be eligible for up to $30,000 in rewards for information leading to recoveries.
