According to a New York Post report, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is rolling out a sweeping new whistleblower program aimed at crushing massive fraud schemes — and paying tipsters a cut of the take.
Under the plan, individuals who help expose major financial crimes could receive between 10% and 30% of the fines collected, provided their information leads to enforcement actions exceeding $1 million.
The initiative targets a wide range of fraud, with a major focus on abuse of Medicare and Medicaid — where losses are estimated to top $70 billion annually.
According to Treasury documents, payouts would come directly from penalties imposed on offenders, not taxpayer funds.
“Individuals located in the United States or abroad who provide information may be eligible for awards,” the memo states, outlining eligibility tied to successful enforcement actions.
The program mirrors an existing whistleblower system run by the Internal Revenue Service, which also offers financial incentives for tips that uncover tax fraud.
The push follows a broader crackdown from the administration. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 calling for a zero-tolerance approach to fraud targeting federal programs.
Vice President JD Vance has also stepped in, convening a new anti-fraud task force as part of the effort to tighten oversight and enforcement.
The urgency is being driven in part by high-profile cases, including an alleged network in Minnesota accused of siphoning billions from public programs through fake clinics, food distribution fronts and shell operations.
Authorities say schemes like these have relied on increasingly sophisticated tactics — including the use of “straw owners” and international money flows — raising concerns about funds being diverted overseas.
Treasury officials are also warning banks to stay alert, citing intelligence that fraud rings may be recruiting foreign nationals to exploit gaps in social program systems.
Bessent confirmed on Fox & Friends that his department has already received more than 700 leads — many of which are now active.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 BREAKING: Sec. Scott Bessent has already received 700 LEADS on massive taxpayer fraud and many investigations are now ACTIVE
Treasury will be able to pay out up to 30% of the recovered funds to the whistleblower 🔥
"We've gotten over 700 leads. Many of them are now active… pic.twitter.com/hXJ3lgX7uV
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 30, 2026
.@USTreasury Targets Fraud Schemes Exploiting Government Health Care Benefitshttps://t.co/7X4FqaAmOL
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 30, 2026
