U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that people who report cases of fraud involving public funds will receive a reward of 1% of the amount in question, provided the fraud is proven.
During a ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump said the program is meant to support the government’s fraud-detection task force, which is headed by Vice President J.D. Vance. Those who report fraud are to receive a 1% commission for each proven tip. A special website, fraud.gov, has been launched for that purpose.
Trump said journalists could also receive the money if their newsrooms allow it.
According to the U.S. president, Vance’s team has so far uncovered fraud with an estimated value of $260 billion. Trump stressed that 160,000 people who had already died have been removed from the list of food stamp recipients, and 275,000 illegal immigrants have been removed from the social security system. Another major area of fraud is said to be loans for small businesses.
Asked whether he would back Vance as a presidential candidate in the next election, Trump said it is “very early” and that he has not yet discussed the matter with him at all.
From Washington, Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
