A mysterious data scientist known only as “DataRepublican” claims to have uncovered over $100 billion in government waste and corruption — and she’s using artificial intelligence to do it, reported NewsNation.
Her work has drawn the attention of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal initiative aimed at slashing spending. But despite her growing influence, the tech expert has had to keep her identity hidden due to threats she’s received.
AI vs government corruption
In an interview, DataRepublican detailed how she maps relationships between government officials, uncovering a tangled web of connections.
“If you research people long enough, you start to notice that they’re all working together, they’re all married, they’re all in-laws,” she said, as quoted by NewsNation. “They sit on the same boards for years, making decisions that benefit each other.”
She insists that corruption isn’t limited to one political party. “Both sides are involved. It is everywhere.”
Musk, DOGE, and the battle over federal spending
DataRepublican’s work aligns with DOGE’s mission to cut federal spending—a goal Musk and former President Donald Trump have repeatedly pushed. The initiative has already claimed $55 billion in savings, slashing grants, renegotiating contracts, and laying off thousands of federal workers—including nearly 7,000 IRS employees last week.
But those cuts have sparked backlash. A lawsuit filed in California alleges Musk violated federal laws by forcing employees to justify their roles or face termination. The Office of Personnel Management reportedly sent an internal memo warning of further reductions.
Meanwhile, lawmakers like Rep. John Cabello (R-Ill.) want to expand DOGE’s methods to state governments. “It’s time to take what they’re doing at the federal level and bring it here,” Cabello said.
‘A whirlwind’ since Musk’s endorsement
Despite her close ties to DOGE, DataRepublican insists she has never spoken directly to Musk. “I don’t communicate with Elon. He found me, and he supports my work,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t know how he found me. You’d have to ask him. But I’m grateful.”
Musk has encouraged his 218 million X followers to follow her work, propelling her into the spotlight. “Since then, it’s just been a whirlwind,” she said.
But while DOGE’s website boasts a “wall of receipts” documenting its spending cuts, nearly $38 billion of its claimed savings remain unverified.
With lawsuits looming and more investigations underway, one thing is clear: DataRepublican isn’t done digging yet.
