About This Project
A transparency tool that combines DC government spending data with statistical anomaly detection and documented audit findings.
DC publishes detailed spending data through its Open Data portal. But raw data alone doesn't tell you where to look. This tool applies statistical detection methods to flag potentially suspicious patterns and connects them to documented audit findings from the DC Auditor and Inspector General.
The goal is not to accuse anyone of wrongdoing — it's to surface patterns that warrant closer examination by journalists, researchers, and engaged citizens.
- Not evidence.Statistical anomalies are patterns, not proof. A flagged payment may have a perfectly legitimate explanation.
- Not accusations.Naming a vendor or agency does not imply wrongdoing.
- Not exhaustive.These methods catch some irregularities but not all. Fraud that follows expected patterns won't be flagged.
- Data quality matters.Our analysis is only as good as DC's underlying data.