Each year the federal government awards tens of billions of dollars in grants to fund projects and programs for the benefit of the public. Recipients of grant monies include all levels of state and local government, not-for-profit organizations such as universities, charities, and for-profit businesses.
Grant fraud, however, is believed to cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Whistleblowers are needed to help stop this fraudulent behavior and prevent such losses.
Government Grants
In all, more than 1,000 federal grant programs are administered by some 26 grant-giving agencies. Grants are awarded for a wide range of purposes including scientific research, the development of drugs and vaccines, law enforcement, community development, disaster prevention, legal services, food assistance, and education.
The largest grant-making federal agency is the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Significant grant monies are also awarded, however, by the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Education (ED), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Common Grant Fraud Practices
Grant fraud typically consists of some form of untruthful dealing with the relevant federal agency. Potential whistleblowers should be alert to actionable practices including:
- Falsifying compliance with the requirements governing how the grant funds should be spent.
- Misusing grant funds or using them for unauthorized purposes such as to pay personal expenses or salaries or compensation unrelated to the purposes of the grant.
- Submitting grant applications that contain false information or that omit information that is required to be disclosed.
- Falsifying research data or results
In 2019, for example, Duke University paid $112 million to settle claims that that submitted claims for grant payments to the National Institute of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency based on falsified or fabricated scientific research data. The whistleblower who filed the qui tam lawsuit that exposed the fraud received a $33 million reward.
Fraud is their game.
Integrity is yours.
Grant Fraud Damages Can Include the Entire Dollar Value of the Grant
Free Consultation
No Fee Unless We Win!
Call or Text Now
Practices
Whistleblower Practices
- False Claims Act/Whistleblower Lawsuits
- Import Duty Evasion & Customs Fraud
- COVID-19 Relief Fraud
- Healthcare Fraud
- Government Contracting & Procurement Fraud
- Grant Fraud
- Federal Credit Assistance Fraud
- Securities Law Violations & the SEC Whistleblower Program
- Tax Fraud & the IRS and New York State Whistleblower Programs
- State False Claims Acts
