Jennica Pounds, known online as DataRepublican, has become embroiled in a controversy after alleging that a senior State Department official attempted to “entrap” her by providing government documents she believed could get her in trouble if leaked. The Pentagon has confirmed that Pounds currently works for the Department of War as a Special Government Employee, adding another layer to the controversy surrounding her claims. Pounds is an investigator and data scientist who previously assisted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. She also had a press credential, but the Pentagon said her PFAC credential expired in June 2026 and she did not seek to renew it. According to the Pentagon, Pounds began working for the Department in July 2026 and serves as a Special Government Employee. The controversy began when Pounds posted online that she had received a collection of government documents from a source who appeared to be offering her a “scoop.” Pounds said she believed the documents were intended to be leaked and that doing so could have put her “in big big trouble.” She alleged that the “Deep State” was attempting to set her up to commit a crime by enticing her to leak sensitive information. Pounds also shared screenshots of a text exchange connected to the documents. She argued that the markings on the documents raised concerns and said she believed that, if the disclosure had been officially sanctioned, the information would have been sent through email. Sarah B. Rogers, the State Department’s under secretary for public diplomacy, subsequently acknowledged that she was the person communicating with Pounds. “lol, these are my text messages and documents,” Rogers said, adding that the markings were Freedom of Information Act redactions required even for voluntary disclosure. The exchange quickly drew criticism and ridicule online, with several commentators portraying the incident as evidence of incompetence within the Trump administration. The controversy has also drawn attention to Rogers’ upcoming confirmation as head of U.S. Global Media. According to the information provided, sources claim her chief of staff, Gavin Wax, could follow her to the agency, with Rogers acting as his protector. Wax’s name has also appeared in a previous controversy involving leaked information. The information provided says he previously leaked information to a Politico journalist. Pounds’ allegations, however, remain her claims, while Rogers has publicly disputed the interpretation of the documents by explaining that the markings were FOIA redactions. The Pentagon has confirmed Pounds’ current employment status, while authorities have not indicated that she has been charged with a crime over the incident. Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart ... View More