The Criminal Division's Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, launched August 1, 2024, pays a share of forfeitures. As of September 2026, no public reports show the Department has paid any awards under it. The Antitrust Division's program has produced results: in January 2026, the Department announced its first whistleblower reward after a tip led to charges, a deferred prosecution agreement, and a $3.28 million fine against an international corporation. WHIP's awards are far smaller than forfeiture-based payouts, and the program's expected volume of tips and awards has not been disclosed.
For compliance and legal teams, the practical risk is that employees, contractors, and business partners may report directly to DOJ instead of using internal channels, because WHIP pays quickly and can be combined with other awards. Law firms are already advising clients to review hotlines, escalation procedures, and non-retaliation policies, and to make sure internal investigations move fast enough to compete with a tipster's incentive to go straight to the government. Watch for the first WHIP awards, the Fraud Division's cases in healthcare and government benefit programs, and any guidance on how the new program interacts with existing whistleblower rules.