Department of Government Efficiency’s Plan to Modernize Social Security Administration’s Systems

Introduction

A recent report by Wired reveals that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is planning to migrate the Social Security Administration’s computer systems from the outdated COBOL programming language to a more modern one. This ambitious project aims to be completed within a few months, a timeline that is being met with skepticism by experts.

The Challenge of Migrating from COBOL

The Social Security Administration’s systems, including the code that issues Social Security numbers and payment schedules, are currently written in COBOL, a language developed in the 1950s. The DOGE team believes that with the help of artificial intelligence, they can make a swift transition to a more modern programming language. However, this approach raises concerns about the risk of cascading failures, which could result in missed payments or beneficiary information being wiped from the system entirely.

Previous Attempts at Modernization

The Social Security Administration had previously planned to migrate away from COBOL over a five-year period in the late 2010s. However, this effort was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted countless plans in 2020. With over 65 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits, any disruptions to the system could have devastating consequences for those who rely on the program to stay alive.

Concerns about the Consequences of Failure

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s recent comments on the All-In podcast downplayed the potential consequences of disruptions to Social Security payments. However, his logic is flawed, as millions of people who have paid into Social Security their entire lives have a reasonable expectation of receiving their benefits. Lutnick’s mother-in-law, who he claimed would not be concerned about missed payments, is unlikely to be representative of the average American who relies on Social Security.

Leadership of the DOGE

The Social Security overhaul is being led by Steve Davis, who is often described as the real day-to-day leader of the pseudo-agency. Davis has a history of loyalty to Musk, having worked with him at SpaceX, the Boring Company, and Twitter. His leadership of the DOGE team has raised concerns about the potential consequences of their actions.

Expert Opinion on the Plan

IT expert Waldo Jaquith, who used to work for the U.S. government’s 18F department, has expressed strong reservations about the DOGE’s plans for Social Security computer systems. Jaquith believes that the plan is "profoundly stupid" and will definitely fail, potentially causing the social security system to fail along with it. He argues that there is no legitimate reason for the rushed push away from COBOL, especially since the current system is working reliably.

Potential Motivations behind the Plan

Jaquith speculates that the real goal of the migration may be to "create a technical chokepoint for the flow of money to allow individuals or groups to be punished extralegally." He suggests that this could be a move towards fascism, using the modernization effort as a "fig leaf" to cover the true intentions.

Protests against Musk’s Power Grab

Protesters are expected to gather at over 200 Tesla locations around the world on Saturday to demonstrate against Musk’s illegal power grab. While most protests have been peaceful, some have turned violent, with a 36-year-old man in Nevada being charged with setting fire to multiple Tesla vehicles. Federal authorities have vowed to defend Tesla dealerships against "terrorism" and will pursue investigations with the full force of the law.

Conclusion

The DOGE’s plan to modernize the Social Security Administration’s systems is a complex and contentious issue. While the goal of updating outdated systems is commendable, the rushed timeline and potential consequences of failure raise serious concerns. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential to consider the potential motivations behind the plan and the potential impact on the millions of Americans who rely on Social Security.