President Donald Trump has a new offer for anyone who knows where the government's money went: tell us, and we'll cut you in. Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, a $25 million effort that pays eligible whistleblowers a 1% commission when their tips help authorities recover misspent government funds.

"If anybody turns anybody in a billion dollars, $5 billion, 100 million, you get a 1% commission," Trump said in the Oval Office.

He added, "I think that will be amazing, because the kind of money that's been stolen is trillions from this country."

Trump said he would serve as the final arbitrator in disputes over who deserves a reward, promising to be "very generous."

Vance framed the program as a share-the-upside moment for ordinary citizens. "The president has said it must stop. It is stopping. And if you want to help us stop it, you get to share in the rewards now, thanks to what the president of the United States has done," he said in the office.

The program's website, America.gov/fraud, reportedly says eligible tips that lead to criminal charges could qualify for rewards of up to $30,000. Trump, however, said there was "no limit" to payouts and predicted that "people can make a lot of money."

One important catch: rewards depend on the government actually recovering the money, not simply bringing criminal charges. So a tip that leads to an indictment but no cash back may not pay out. Think of it less as a bounty and more as a finder's fee on recovered treasure.

First Check Goes To Nick Shirley

To prove the program is real, Trump presented conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley with a $10,000 check as the White House launched the effort, according to CBS News.

Shirley gained attention for a video investigating alleged fraud involving childcare programs in Minnesota. That kind of citizen sleuthing is exactly what the program is designed to encourage, though the 1% math gets interesting fast: a $10,000 check implies a recovery of roughly $1 million, give or take the fine print.

Trump established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in March, with Vance serving as chairman. The task force aims to investigate and reduce fraud in federal government programs.

Sanders Files A Tip Of His Own

Not everyone is sold on the program. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized the fraud whistleblower initiative, writing, "That's great, Mr. Trump. I'd like to report a theft."

He alleged that someone in the government had illegally spent nearly $22 million in taxpayer money on campaign ads praising himself.

Referring to Trump, Sanders added, "He now resides on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," and asked, "Taxpayers want to know when they'll get their money back."

It is a sharp bit of political theater: using the president's own tip line as a punchline. Whether Sanders expects a 1% commission on that alleged $22 million is, presumably, a joke. But it does highlight the awkward question at the heart of any whistleblower program: who watches the watchmen, and who decides which tips count?

For now, the program is live, the first check has been handed out, and the White House is betting that a little financial incentive will turn millions of Americans into amateur fraud investigators. Trump's prediction that "people can make a lot of money" may be the most optimistic forecast in Washington this week.