DOJ and USPS Issue First-Ever Whistleblower Award: Key Implications for Corporate Compliance

February 2, 2026

On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division ("DOJ"), in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service ("USPS"), announced its first-ever whistleblower reward—marking a significant milestone in the implementation of last summer's new  Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program. The $1 million award was granted to an individual whose report helped expose a multi-year antitrust and fraud scheme in the online used-car auction market.

This development is not only notable as the inaugural payout under the new program, but also a clear indication that the DOJ is actively operationalizing whistleblower incentives to detect and prosecute antitrust crimes. As such, companies across industries should take note: the whistleblower landscape has fundamentally shifted.

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