Trump is giving Nick Shirley $10,000 and launching a $25 million fraud bounty program

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that they are awarding $10,000 to right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley and initiating a $25 million fraud bounty program. Shirley, a content creator popular on the right-wing platform, published a viral video in December 2025 claiming fraud at daycare centers in Minnesota operated by Somali members of the community.

To gather evidence, Shirley lingered in parking lots, entered childcare centers, and recorded refusals as proof that the centers were not providing care. Federal immigration agents were subsequently dispatched to Minneapolis and the Trump administration froze Minnesota's federal funding for childcare. The administration has praised Shirley for his efforts and created a Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) with a $25 million pool for reporting fraud.

Anyone who believes they have witnessed fraud can submit a report and may be eligible for up to $30,000 in rewards if their tip leads to a conviction or significant federal action. However, President Trump contradicted the $30,000 limit, stating that the commission could be as high as 1 percent of the amount recovered, which could exceed $200 billion.

Trump's methods have been criticized in Minnesota, where the state had already been conducting fraud investigations before Shirley's appearance. Upon visiting the centers Shirley highlighted, state officials found them operating as expected.