| Date | Recipient | Amount | Matter | Announced by | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-20 | Nick Shirley | $10,000 | Minnesota child care subsidy fraud (December 2025 video) | President Trump, Oval Office | Presented as the program's first payout. No DOJ document describes this award, and the tip predates the program and its portal. | Deseret News, Oct. 20, 2026 CBS News via Yahoo, Oct. 20, 2026 |
How awards are decided
Under the written terms, each distinct tip can earn one award of $10,000 to $30,000, paid at or around the time the criminal charges it led to are filed and unsealed. Awards are at the Justice Department's sole discretion. The DOJ does not publicly disclose information that could identify a tipster, so future awards may be reported only as amounts. President Trump has said he will personally decide awards; see the announcement explained.
The first award, to Nick Shirley, was handed over in the Oval Office before any tip had gone through the new portal. Read how it came about.
Frequently asked questions
How many WHIP awards have been paid?
1 publicly announced as of October 20, 2026, totaling $10,000. The DOJ keeps tipsters' identities confidential, so later awards may be announced without names.
How much is left in the WHIP fund?
Treasury committed $25 million. Publicly announced awards total $10,000, or 0.04% of the fund. The DOJ has not published a running balance.