Published on: 2025-03-28

Intelligence Report: DOGE Plans to Rewrite Entire Social Security Codebase in Just a Few Months Report – Gizmodo.com

1. BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

The DOGE initiative, led by Elon Musk and Steve Davis, aims to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s computer system from COBOL to a modern programming language within a few months. This ambitious timeline poses significant risks, including potential disruptions to social security payments and broader economic impacts. Immediate attention and strategic planning are required to mitigate these risks.

2. Detailed Analysis

The following structured analytic techniques have been applied for this analysis:

General Analysis

The plan to migrate the Social Security Administration’s system is driven by the need to modernize outdated COBOL-based infrastructure. However, the proposed timeline is considered unrealistic by experts, given the complexity and sensitivity of the data involved. The reliance on artificial intelligence for a “snap transition” introduces additional uncertainties. Historical disruptions, such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the potential for cascading failures if the transition is rushed.

3. Implications and Strategic Risks

The primary risk involves the disruption of social security payments to millions of Americans, which could lead to significant economic and social instability. The potential for system failures during the transition could result in data loss or corruption. Additionally, the political ramifications of such a move, especially if perceived as a power grab, could lead to legal challenges and further destabilize government operations.

4. Recommendations and Outlook

Recommendations:

• Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment and develop a phased implementation plan to ensure system stability.
• Engage with independent technology experts to validate the feasibility of the proposed timeline and approach.
• Enhance oversight and transparency to build public trust and mitigate political backlash.

Outlook:

Best-case scenario: A successful phased transition with minimal disruption to social security payments and improved system efficiency.
Worst-case scenario: System failures leading to widespread payment disruptions, legal challenges, and significant political fallout.
Most likely outcome: Delays in the transition timeline with incremental progress and ongoing political and public scrutiny.

5. Key Individuals and Entities

The report mentions significant individuals and organizations:

• Elon Musk
• Steve Davis
• Jared Birchall
• Howard Lutnick
• Susan Collins
• Joe Gebbia