On August 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, a three-year initiative designed to incentivize individuals to report corporate misconduct. This program aims to bridge gaps in existing federal whistleblower mechanisms by offering financial rewards to those who provide original, non-public information leading to successful enforcement actions.
Program Overview
The pilot program targets specific areas of corporate crime not adequately covered by existing whistleblower programs, such as those administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Eligible misconduct includes:
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Violations by financial institutions and related abuses not covered by the FinCEN whistleblower program.
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Corporate foreign corruption schemes, including violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering statutes.
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Domestic corporate corruption involving bribes or kickbacks to public officials.
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Federal healthcare offenses involving private insurance plans and fraud against patients or investors not covered by the False Claims Act.
To qualify for an award, the whistleblower’s information must lead to a successful criminal or civil forfeiture exceeding $1 million in net proceeds. Awards can be up to 30% of the first $100 million recovered and up to 5% of amounts between $100 million and $500 million.
Recent Expansion
In May 2025, the DOJ expanded the program to include violations of federal immigration laws. This addition allows whistleblowers to report corporate non-compliance with immigration regulations, further broadening the scope of the program.
Eligibility and Reporting
Whistleblowers must provide original, voluntary, and truthful information not previously known to the DOJ. Those who report misconduct internally are encouraged to report to the DOJ within 120 days to maintain eligibility.
Certain individuals are excluded from receiving awards, including those who:
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Were significantly involved in the reported misconduct.
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Obtained information through privileged communications.
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Are employed by the DOJ or are immediate family members of DOJ employees.
Implementation and Oversight
The DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) oversees the program, with support from the Fraud and Public Integrity Sections and the FBI. At the conclusion of the three-year pilot, the DOJ will assess the program’s effectiveness and determine future steps.
Accessing the Program
Individuals interested in submitting information can visit the DOJ’s official website: www.justice.gov/CorporateWhistleblower. The site provides detailed guidance on eligibility, submission procedures, and frequently asked questions.
This initiative underscores the DOJ’s commitment to leveraging whistleblower insights to enhance corporate accountability and integrity.
Matthew Galluzzo is a former Manhattan prosecutor who works as an attorney for corporate whistleblowers. He has successfully represented dozens of people who have supplied valuable information to federal law enforcement investigators. If you believe that you have information about corporate fraud that could result in a qui tam payout, you should strongly consider engaging Matthew Galluzzo and his experienced team of former federal fraud investigators.