Federal Whistleblower Reward Attorney

Learn About Eligibility for Whistleblower Rewards in Federal Cases

From the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), authorities across the federal government rely heavily on whistleblowers to come forward. Whistleblowing is key to the success of many federal agencies’ enforcement efforts; and, in addition to providing confidentiality to whistleblowers, many of these agencies issue financial rewards to eligible whistleblowers as well.

Are you eligible to seek a federal whistleblower reward?

Several federal whistleblower laws include provisions that entitle whistleblowers to monetary awards when they help the government pursue successful enforcement actions. While seeking a monetary award involves filing a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act in some cases, in others, it involves filing a whistleblower report directly with the DOJ, CFTC, SEC, or another federal agency. Our attorneys help whistleblowers come forward through all available means, and we work with the government to secure our clients’ whistleblower rewards when warranted.

Whistleblower Rewards Under the False Claims Act

The False Claims Act (FCA) prohibits the submission of “false and fraudulent” claims to the federal government, and it is one of the federal government’s most potent weapons for fighting fraud, waste, and abuse. Along with providing strong whistleblower protections, the FCA also entitles whistleblowers to monetary rewards in successful cases.  

Whistleblower Award Eligibility Under the FCA

There are a few basic eligibility criteria for serving as a whistleblower (and seeking a monetary reward) under the FCA. In general, False Claims Act whistleblowers must:

• Come forward with “original information” that is not currently known to the federal government;
• Be the first to provide this original information to the federal government; and,
• Make a voluntary disclosure that is sufficient to warrant further investigation (a disclosure is “voluntary” if it is not the result of a government inquiry).

Eligible individuals who have credible information about bid rigging, price fixing, healthcare fraud, or any other violation of the FCA can come forward by filing a qui tam lawsuit in federal court. Once a whistleblower files a qui tam lawsuit, the DOJ will protect the whistleblower’s information while it investigates; and, if the DOJ’s investigation leads to a successful enforcement action, the whistleblower will be entitled to a monetary reward.

Whistleblower Award Percentages Under the FCA

Whistleblower awards under the False Claims Act generally range from 15% to 30% of the amount of monetary sanctions the government recovers. Specific award percentages in FCA whistleblower cases are determined based on many factors, including (but not limited to):

• The Value of the Information Provided – If a whistleblower timely submits information that the DOJ can use to pursue a successful enforcement action, this can help to maximize the whistleblower’s reward eligibility. Conversely, if a whistleblower waits longer than necessary or only provides minimal information, then a lower award percentage may be warranted.
• The Whistleblower’s Involvement in the DOJ’s Investigation – The amount of assistance the government receives from a whistleblower can play a major role in determining the whistleblower’s award percentage as well. Generally speaking, the greater the level of assistance provided, the larger the monetary award the whistleblower will be entitled to receive.
• Whether the DOJ Intervenes in the Legal Action – After investigating, the DOJ will decide whether to “intervene” in the legal action or give the whistleblower the option of pursuing his or her case independently. If the government intervenes, the whistleblower will be entitled to an award of 15% to 25% of the amount recovered if the case is successful. If the government declines to intervene, the whistleblower will be entitled to an award of 25% to 30% of any monetary sanctions collected.

Payment of whistleblower rewards in all False Claims Act cases is contingent upon a successful enforcement action. While most False Claims Act cases are civil in nature, the DOJ can also pursue criminal fines when warranted, and FCA whistleblower rewards can be based on criminal fines as well.

Financial Rewards Under Federal Whistleblower Programs

Along with the False Claims Act, several other federal laws include provisions for whistleblower rewards as well. These laws are administered by the DOJ, CFTC, SEC, and various other federal agencies. If you are eligible to serve as a whistleblower but the information you are prepared to disclose does not implicate a violation of the False Claims Act, our attorneys may be able to help you come forward under one of the following federal whistleblower programs:

• DOJ Antitrust Whistleblower Program – The DOJ’s Antitrust Division accepts whistleblower complaints involving civil and criminal antitrust violations. It issued its first-ever whistleblower award in 2026 and stated its intent to continue working with whistleblowers going forward.
• DOJ Corporate Whistleblower Program – The DOJ’s Criminal Division accepts whistleblower complaints involving numerous forms of corporate fraud and corruption, and whistleblowers can receive rewards following successful civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings.
• CFTC Whistleblower Program – The CFTC accepts whistleblower complaints involving violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and related laws and regulations, and it issues awards under the Dodd-Frank Act’s whistleblower provisions.
• FinCEN Whistleblower Program – The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) accepts whistleblower complaints involving violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and other federal financial fraud statutes, as well as complaints involving violations of OFAC sanctions.
• SEC Whistleblower Program – The SEC accepts whistleblower complaints involving all types of federal securities law violations, including violations by brokerage firms, investment advisors, securities issuers, and corporate insiders.
• IRS Whistleblower Program – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accepts whistleblower complaints involving tax evasion, tax fraud, and other violations of the nation’s tax laws. Like the other agencies listed above, the IRS issues rewards to eligible whistleblowers in successful cases.

Whistleblowers can report other forms of wrongdoing to other federal agencies as well, though not all of these agencies have whistleblower reward programs. Again, our attorneys can help you make an informed decision about coming forward; and, if you decide to come forward, we can work with the appropriate federal authorities on your behalf.

FAQs: Whistleblower Reward Laws and Protections for Federal Whistleblowers

Speak with an Experienced Federal Whistleblower Reward Attorney in Strict Confidence

If you would like to speak with an experienced federal whistleblower attorney about your reward eligibility, we invite you to contact us for a strictly confidential consultation. Call us at 888-680-1745 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.