DOJ Whistleblower Award

Learn When Whistleblowers Are Eligible to Receive Awards from the DOJ

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is one of several federal agencies that offer financial incentives to whistleblowers. Individuals who report civil or criminal violations to the DOJ can become eligible to receive a financial award if their whistleblower report leads to a successful enforcement action.

This is true whether the DOJ secures a conviction in federal court, enters into a deferred prosecution agreement, or secures any other resolution resulting in criminal fines or other monetary sanctions. We help current employees, former employees, and other individuals report all types of civil and criminal activity to the DOJ, and we work with the DOJ to secure whistleblower awards on behalf of our clients when warranted.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Whistleblower Award Programs

The DOJ accepts whistleblower complaints from members of the public under its whistleblower award programs. These include:

1. DOJ Antitrust Division Whistleblower Rewards Program

Coming forward under the DOJ Antitrust Division Whistleblower Rewards Program is an option for individuals who have information about corporate practices and fraud schemes that violate the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, and other federal antitrust laws and regulations. This includes everything from bid rigging (i.e., submitting fake bids) and price fixing to market allocation and other anticompetitive practices.

The DOJ launched its antitrust whistleblower program in 2025 in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service. It issued its first award in 2026—a $1 million award issued to a whistleblower who helped the DOJ secure a $3.28 million settlement with an online used vehicle auction company accused of using an acquired company to suppress competition. The online auction platform was accused of various crimes and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.

2. DOJ Criminal Division Corporate Whistleblower Program

Along with criminal antitrust violations, the DOJ accepts whistleblower complaints involving other corporate crimes as well. The DOJ Criminal Division Corporate Whistleblower Program also provides whistleblower incentives in cases that result in the recovery of $1 million or more.

The Criminal Division accepts whistleblower complaints involving all types of fraud charges. It accepts whistleblower complaints involving allegations of foreign corruption and other serious forms of corporate misconduct as well. If you believe that you have information about any form of corporate criminal conduct, our attorneys will be more than happy to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you make an informed decision about whether to come forward and seek an award.

Whistleblower Awards Are Also Available Under the False Claims Act

Whistleblower awards are also available under the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to file qui tam actions in federal court. These are lawsuits filed on the government’s behalf alleging fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) under federal contracts, grants, and programs.

The DOJ is required to conduct investigations in response to qui tam actions that meet the requisite federal standards, and it has taken on an increasing number of these cases in recent years. While qui tam whistleblowers are not required to cooperate with the DOJ beyond their initial filing, providing full cooperation during the DOJ’s investigation can help maximize the amount of a whistleblower’s award if the proceedings lead to a successful enforcement action.

Key Takeaways for Prospective DOJ Whistleblowers

If you are thinking about blowing the whistle with the U.S. Department of Justice, it is critical to ensure that you are making informed decisions. Here are some key takeaways for prospective DOJ whistleblowers:

Whistleblowers can report numerous forms of corporate wrongdoing to the DOJ under its whistleblower programs or the False Claims Act. From foreign corruption to criminal antitrust activity, and from government contract fraud to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, whistleblowers can report numerous forms of corporate wrongdoing to the DOJ. Whether you are aware of an acquired entity using confidential bidding information, a healthcare provider overbilling the government, or a defense contractor defrauding the government, you may be eligible to serve as a DOJ whistleblower.
Whistleblowers can become eligible to receive monetary awards when they help the DOJ pursue a successful enforcement action. DOJ whistleblowers can become eligible to receive monetary awards when they help the DOJ secure monetary sanctions through either civil or criminal enforcement. To ensure their award eligibility, prospective DOJ whistleblowers should consult with an experienced whistleblower lawyer before coming forward.
Whistleblower awards under the DOJ’s whistleblower programs and the False Claims Act can be substantial. DOJ whistleblower awards can be substantial, and award amounts depend, in part, on whistleblowers’ level of involvement in the government’s case. If you are interested in maximizing your award eligibility, our whistleblower lawyers can help.
Whistleblowers can help maximize their award amounts by meaningfully contributing to the DOJ’s investigation. Maximizing whistleblower award eligibility generally involves contributing as much as possible to the DOJ’s investigation. The more information and assistance that whistleblowers can provide, the greater their chances will be of securing a sizable award if the DOJ’s case is successful.
Some prospective whistleblowers may need to contact the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or another federal agency instead of the DOJ. While the DOJ accepts whistleblower complaints involving numerous forms of corporate fraud, some whistleblowers may need to contact the SEC or another federal agency instead. Our lawyers can assess the information you have in your possession and then help you make an informed decision about how to proceed.

Another key piece of information for prospective DOJ whistleblowers is that it costs nothing out-of-pocket to engage a whistleblower attorney. We do not charge our clients anything to help them make an informed decision about coming forward. When our clients decide to come forward, our legal fees (if any) are calculated as a percentage of their whistleblower award. Due to the complexity of federal whistleblower cases, working with an experienced whistleblower attorney is strongly recommended.

FAQs: Seeking a DOJ Whistleblower Award

Can You Receive a Monetary Reward for Reporting Antitrust Violations to the DOJ?

Whistleblowers who report antitrust violations to the DOJ can receive a monetary reward if their whistleblower report leads to a successful enforcement action. The DOJ’s Antitrust Division established a whistleblower reward program in 2025 and began paying whistleblower rewards in 2026.

Should I File a Whistleblower Complaint with the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG)?

The DOJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) generally handles whistleblower complaints involving internal matters. As a result, most private citizens who are eligible to file whistleblower complaints will need to file either: (i) with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division; (ii) with the DOJ’s Criminal Division; or, (iii) under the False Claims Act. If you need to know more about filing a whistleblower complaint with the DOJ, our experienced attorneys can explain everything you need to know.

Should Antitrust Whistleblowers File Their Complaints with the DOJ, SEC, or CFTC?

Whether antitrust whistleblowers should file their complaints with the DOJ, SEC, or CFTC depends on the specific information they have in their possession. Each of these agencies handles different types of whistleblower cases (though there is also significant overlap), so making an informed decision is critical. If you have multiple options for coming forward, our attorneys can reach out to the relevant agencies to assess their interest in pursuing the information you are prepared to disclose.

Does the DOJ Need to Recover $1 Million or More to Issue a Whistleblower Award?

It depends. Under the False Claims Act, there is no minimum amount that the government must recover in order for a whistleblower to become eligible for an award (though, as a practical matter, most cases involve potential liability exposure well in excess of $1 million). In contrast, the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Whistleblower Reward Program and the DOJ Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Award Program both have $1 million recovery thresholds.

Under the Antitrust Division’s Whistleblower Reward Program, whistleblower award amounts range from 15% to 30% of the amount recovered in most cases. Under the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Award program, successful whistleblowers are entitled to up to 30% of the first $100 million recovered and up to 5% of proceeds recovered between $100 million and $500 million.

What if My Employer Has Already Come Forward Under the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Leniency Program?

If your employer has already come forward under the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Leniency Program, whether you are eligible to serve as a whistleblower depends on the information the Antitrust Division already has in its possession. Here too, our attorneys can engage with the DOJ proactively on your behalf to assess your whistleblower eligibility. While whistleblowers must typically be able to provide information that warrants opening an investigation, whistleblowers can also contribute to ongoing investigations in some cases.

Schedule a Free and Confidential Consultation with a DOJ Whistleblower Attorney Today

If you would like more information about the possibility of seeking a whistleblower award from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our senior DOJ whistleblower attorneys, call 888-680-1745 or contact us confidentially online today.