Treasury Launches Whistleblower Program to Reward Fraud Exposés

New rules aim to incentivize citizen journalists to report misuse of federal funds.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a hand holding a magnifying glass examining financial documents, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of vibrant red, blue, and yellow colors, conveying the concept of citizen investigation into government fraud.The Treasury's new whistleblower program aims to empower citizens to expose fraud and misuse of public funds through financial incentives.NYC Today

The U.S. Treasury Department is implementing a formal whistleblower program through FinCEN that will reward individuals who provide timely, actionable information on fraud, sanctions violations, and other illicit finance crimes related to federal programs. Whistleblowers could receive 10% to 30% of monetary penalties collected if their tips lead to successful enforcement actions by Treasury or the Department of Justice.

Why it matters

The program aims to empower citizens to help expose waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars in government programs, which has become a growing concern for many Americans. By incentivizing whistleblowers, the Treasury hopes to uncover large-scale fraud schemes that have drained billions from initiatives meant to help people in need.

The details

The new whistleblower rules, proposed for the Federal Register, would create formal procedures for submitting information securely and applying for awards. Eligibility, award claim evaluation, and whistleblower protections are also outlined. The program is authorized under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act of 2022.

  • The Treasury Department recently launched a whistleblower portal to make it easier for people to come forward with information.
  • The proposed rules for the whistleblower program have been submitted to the Federal Register for implementation.

The players

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

The head of the U.S. Treasury Department, which is implementing the new whistleblower program.

President Trump

The former U.S. president who has called for greater accountability over how taxpayer funds are used.

FinCEN

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that will oversee the whistleblower program.

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What they’re saying

“As promised, Treasury will reward whistleblowers who provide timely, actionable information on fraud, sanctions violations, and other significant illicit finance activity.”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

“President Trump has been clear that Americans have a right to know their tax dollars are not being diverted 'to fund acts of global terror or to fund luxury cars for fraudsters.'”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

What’s next

The proposed whistleblower program rules have been submitted to the Federal Register for implementation, which will establish the formal procedures for submitting information and applying for awards.

The takeaway

This new whistleblower program empowers citizens to help uncover waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds in government programs, providing a financial incentive for people to come forward with evidence of misuse of public money.