$25 million in federal rewards will be offered for public fraud tips, and the Trump administration gave right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley a $10,000 award at Tuesday’s White House announcement.
Shirley rose to prominence after a December 2025 video alleging fraud at Minnesota daycares run by members of the local Somali community, a post that went viral despite relying on confrontational visits and refusals of entry.
That video helped trigger a broad government response: federal immigration agents moved into the Minneapolis area and the administration froze Minnesota’s federal childcare funding.
Shirley has since repeated similar unannounced visits to grocery stores and hospice centers, while Vice President JD Vance and other officials have praised him and elevated his role in MAGA-aligned media.
The award and bounty program formalize a style of influencer-driven fraud hunting that critics say can spur harassment and even immigration crackdowns.