Social media influencer @DataRepublican — the online pseudonym of Jennica Pounds, a software engineer and data analyst from Utah who gained national prominence for using AI tools to map federal spending and expose what she characterized as government waste — announced on Friday on X that she is resigning from Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Department of War.
She wrote: “I have submitted my resignation from the Department of War. It has been an honor to support the mission of the Department. I remain a strong supporter of our nation’s military and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership. I’m stepping back to focus on my book tour and midterms analysis in the months ahead. I do want to say I’m disappointed by how Special Government Employees, not just myself, have been treated in public discourse. The SGE program exists so that talented private citizens can serve their country without leaving their lives behind. We as a nation can find a better way to welcome those who want to serve their country. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity. I wish the Department and Secretary Hegseth continued success.”
[NOTE: In August, The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon secretly hired influencers, including Pounds and retired military colonels Rob Maness and Kurt Schlichter, to work in civilian roles.]
I have submitted my resignation from the Department of War.
It has been an honor to support the mission of the Department. I remain a strong supporter of our nation’s military and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership.
I’m stepping back to focus on my book tour and midterms analysis…
— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) October 2, 2026
MAGA-aligned Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-MN) replied, “Thank you for serving our great nation. May God bless you and your family.”
Thank you for serving our great nation. May God bless you and your family.
— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) October 3, 2026
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September, replied: “So being a Fed wasn’t all it was cracked up to be?”
So being a Fed wasn’t all it was cracked up to be?
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 2, 2026
DataRepublican replied to Massie, “You and I have no quarrel. MTG helped in a big way. Please reach out if you’re seriously interested in repair,” to which Massie replied, “Thank you. Sent you a DM just now.”
After that public exchange, DataRepublican wrote: “Since people are reading tea leaves: I support President Trump. I disagree with Massie on plenty. He reached out, and I answered him like an adult. ‘Genuine’ means he thinks for himself, not that I endorse his views. Midterms are one month from now. Vote early and vote straight Republican.”
[NOTE: Retired professor at the U.S. Naval War College, Tom Nichols, now a contributing writer to The Atlantic, also responded to DataRepublican: “No one’s criticizing SGEs. They’re criticizing people who post political advocacy online while keeping it under wraps that they’re actually being paid by the government. This is not a difficult concept.”]