Antitrust Whistleblower Reward
Are You Eligible to Seek a Reward Under the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Whistleblower Program?
Individuals who report civil and criminal antitrust violations to the federal government can become eligible to receive monetary rewards if their reports lead to successful enforcement actions. The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division operates one of several federal whistleblower rewards programs; and, in some cases, antitrust whistleblowers can seek rewards under the False Claims Act as well.
Options for Seeking an Antitrust Whistleblower Reward
We help prospective whistleblowers make informed decisions about whether to report potential antitrust violations to the federal government. If you have questions about coming forward, our federal whistleblower lawyers can explain everything you need to know. This includes walking you through the two primary options for seeking a whistleblower reward—filing a complaint directly with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and filing a qui tam lawsuit in federal court:
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Whistleblower Program
The DOJ’s Antitrust Division launched a new whistleblower program in 2025. Like many other federal whistleblower programs, the Antitrust Division’s whistleblower program offers significant financial incentives to individuals who come forward with information about illegal conduct that violates federal law.
The DOJ’s Antitrust Division conducts criminal antitrust investigations in response to whistleblower complaints, and successful whistleblowers are generally entitled to a percentage of any penalties and/or other funds recovered. This is true whether the DOJ secures a conviction through criminal prosecution in federal court or it enters into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA).
False Claims Act Qui Tam Lawsuit
The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow employees, former employees, and other individuals to file civil lawsuits on behalf of the federal government. Various types of antitrust violations can implicate the False Claims Act’s prohibition on “false and fraudulent claims.”
Filing a False Claims Act qui tam lawsuit is very different from filing a whistleblower report with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. As a result, it is critical for prospective whistleblowers to work with a team of experienced whistleblowers who can help them make informed decisions and then Filing a False Claims Act qui tam lawsuit is very different from filing a whistleblower report with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. As a result, it is critical for prospective whistleblowers to work with a team of experienced whistleblowers who can help them make informed decisions and then take appropriate action on their behalf.
Eligibility to Seek an Antitrust Whistleblower Reward
While there are specific (and different) eligibility criteria for submitting whistleblower tips under the DOJ’s Antitrust Whistleblower Reward Program and the False Claims Act, there are three overarching requirements that apply in all federal antitrust whistleblower cases. These requirements are:
1. Original Information
Whistleblowers must be able to provide “original information” that is based on independent knowledge. This means that the information must not already be known to the federal government. While whistleblowers must generally be able to provide information that warrants a new federal investigation, whistleblower incentives are also available to individuals who provide original information that assists with an ongoing investigation in some cases.
2. Violation of Federal Antitrust Law
The “original information” a whistleblower provides must reflect a violation (or potential violation) of federal antitrust law. This means that individuals who have firsthand knowledge of any of the following may be eligible to come forward:
Failure to Adopt an Antitrust Compliance Program
Companies are required to have antitrust compliance programs designed to both ensure compliance and ensure that a company self-reports violations to the government when necessary. If a company has not adopted necessary internal compliance functions, internal reporting functions, or other internal controls, this may warrant a whistleblower complaint.
Noncompliance with Corporate Compliance Programs
Even if a company has adopted a robust compliance program, this alone is not enough to insulate the company from exposure to civil or criminal penalties. Companies that fail to comply with their corporate compliance programs can face enforcement action as well.
Anticompetitive Practices Impacting Consumers
Whistleblowers can expose a wide range of anticompetitive practices that have negative impacts on consumers. These include (but are by no means limited to):
- Big rigging (including submission of fake bids (or “shill bidding”))
- Market allocation
- Price fixing
- Other efforts to eliminate competition
- Cartel conduct and other forms of illegal activity
Notably, whistleblowers can expose bid rigging in public procurement cases as well. This is an example of a scenario in which it may make sense to expose the illegal antitrust activity (and seek a whistleblower payment) under the False Claims Act.
Violations Involving Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions
All parties involved in corporate mergers and acquisitions can potentially be implicated in civil antitrust violations and antitrust crimes. These cases will often (though not always) involve allegations against multiple alleged co-conspirators—and this can lead to substantial monetary awards for whistleblowers. If you work for (or worked for) an acquiring or acquired entity and believe you have information about a federal antitrust violation, we encourage you to contact us to learn more.
Other Sherman Act and Clayton Act Violations
Along with the violations listed above, antitrust whistleblowers can report all other violations of the Sherman Act and Clayton Act (and various related offenses) as well. If you believe that you have (or may have) information about any significant federal antitrust violation, we want to hear from you.
3. Coming Forward to the DOJ
Antitrust whistleblowers must generally come forward to the DOJ—whether they file a report directly with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division or they file a qui tam lawsuit in federal court. The DOJ investigates qui tam lawsuits for the federal government, and ongoing cooperation during the DOJ’s investigation can be a major factor in both pursuing a successful case and recovering a whistleblower reward.
How the Government Calculates Antitrust Whistleblower Awards
Antitrust whistleblower rewards are calculated differently in cases filed under the DOJ’s Antitrust Whistleblower Program and the False Claims Act. Here are the basics:
- DOJ Antitrust Whistleblower Program – The Antitrust Division pays awards of 15% to 30% of the criminal fines and other amounts recovered, provided that it recovers at least $1 million.
- False Claims Act Qui Tam Lawsuits – Whistleblower awards in False Claims Act cases range from 15% to 25% if the DOJ intervenes, and from 25% to 30% if the DOJ declines to intervene.
Generally, anonymous reporting is not an option for whistleblowers who are interested in establishing reward eligibility. However, the DOJ protects whistleblowers’ identities, and our lawyers work alongside the DOJ to protect our clients’ identities as well.
Key Takeaways for Prospective Antitrust Whistleblowers
Whistleblowers play a key role in the DOJ’s efforts to expose and prosecute violations of federal antitrust laws, and federal law incentivizes whistleblowers to come forward. While the DOJ’s Antitrust Whistleblower Program is still fairly new, it issued its first-ever whistleblower reward in 2026—a $1 million reward in a case that resulted in a $3.28 million criminal fine. Additionally, the DOJ has paid billions of dollars to whistleblowers under the False Claims Act, with several record-breaking awards being issued in recent years. If you think you may be eligible to seek a whistleblower reward, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information.
FAQs: Whistleblower Rewards for Exposing Antitrust Violations
When Can Whistleblowers Receive Rewards for Reporting Antitrust Violations to the Government?
Antitrust whistleblowers can receive rewards if they report violations under the DOJ’s Antitrust Whistleblower Reward Program or the False Claims Act. Whistleblowers must generally be the first to come forward with the information they have in their possession, and they must come forward before an investigation begins in most (but not all) cases.
Does the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Accept Antitrust Whistleblower Complaints?
While the United States Postal Service (USPS) works with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division under its whistleblower rewards program, whistleblowers must generally file their complaints with the Antitrust Division.
Are There Other Reporting Incentives for Employees Who Have Information About Antitrust Violations?
Yes, along with monetary awards, eligible whistleblowers are also entitled to confidentiality and protection against retaliation by their employers. Whistleblower activity is protected under federal law, and retaliating against whistleblowers is strictly prohibited.
What if My Employer Has Already Come Forward Under the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Leniency Policy?
The DOJ’s leniency program allows companies that self-report antitrust violations to mitigate their penalty exposure. However, companies that self-report won’t always report all violations, so whistleblowers can still come forward in many cases.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Seek an Antitrust Whistleblower Reward?
While hiring a lawyer to seek an antitrust whistleblower reward is not required, it is strongly recommended. If you are thinking about blowing the whistle on an antitrust violation, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our lawyers before you attempt to contact the federal government.
Schedule a Free and Confidential Consultation with an Experienced Antitrust Whistleblower Lawyer Today
Do you have more questions about antitrust whistleblower reward eligibility? If so, we invite you to contact us for a free and confidential consultation. To schedule an appointment, call 888-680-1745 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.