Washington — President Trump on Tuesday announced the federal government will compensate whistleblowers who report people defrauding the U.S. government and taxpayers, but said he will decide who gets paid. 

"I will be the arbitrator of all of these decisions," the president said during his Oval Office announcement with Vice President JD Vance, who heads up the administration's fraud task force, beside him. "In other words, I'll determine whether or not the person is deserving and I'll determine — and I will be very generous, believe me." 

Through the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, Mr. Trump said whistleblowers, who can be ordinary citizens, will be eligible to receive 1% of the amount of fraud they r...