The Trump administration is giving right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley $10,000 and launching a $25 million bounty program that pays members of the public for reporting fraud. The Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) will emphasize fraud in hospice, home healthcare, daycares, and special services, according to a government website. Tips submitted through a chatbot can earn up to $30,000 if they lead to a conviction or significant federal action, per Fox News and the reporting portal.
Shirley rose to prominence after a December 2025 video alleging fraud at Minnesota daycares operated by members of the Somali community. He based his claims largely on being denied entry to facilities, and his video prompted federal immigration agents to descend on Minneapolis and the administration to freeze Minnesota's childcare funding. Shirley has since repeated similar tactics at grocery stores and hospice centers in other states, becoming a fixture in MAGA-aligned content creation.
Speaking on Tuesday, Trump contradicted the $30,000 cap, saying tipsters would receive a 1% commission on any recovered funds. One percent of $1 billion would far exceed the stated ceiling, and the White House did not clarify how the $10,000 payment to Shirley was calculated or how the program is funded. Shirley's methods have drawn criticism in Minnesota, where state officials later visited the centers he featured and found them operating "as expected."