What Are The Different Whistleblower Programs?

Federal law creates several whistleblower programs that offer financial rewards for reporting fraud and other misconduct. The programs cover different subjects and have distinct procedures and requirements. But each generally entitles whistleblowers who provide the government with original information about fraud or other misconduct to receive a share of the government's recovery. That financial incentive seeks to encourage whistleblowers to provide information that might otherwise not come to the government's attention. To further encourage disclosure, most programs also protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

The most significant federal whistleblower programs are listed below.