The cavalry has arrived, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might just save taxpayers billions by modernizing the IRS’s outdated technology.
At a Glance
- Elon Musk’s DOGE aims to revamp IRS systems to curb excessive spending.
- The IRS modernization program is 30 years overdue and $15 billion over budget.
- Ancient systems like COBOL and Assembly continue to inflate costs.
- Democrats urge caution amidst restructuring efforts.
An Unprecedented Effort
Elon Musk’s initiative through DOGE is aimed squarely at dragging the IRS out of the technological dark ages. Entrenched in a bygone era of computing, the department continues to rely on computer systems that might as well be antiques. COBOL and Assembly-mainframes are still in use, forcing taxpayers to bear the heavy costs imposed by the need for highly-paid consultants. Can you believe it? A modernization plan hatched during the Reagan era is just now receiving the serious reevaluation it desperately needed.
The modernization program at the IRS hasn’t just missed its mark—it’s shot so wide that the target doesn’t even come into sight. Sam Corcas, a DOGE advisor acutely aware of modern computing, points out that the IRS is nearly thirty years behind schedule and $15 billion over its intended budget. It seems as if “moving at the speed of government” has never held more weight.
The Price of Delay
Each day that passes without modernization is another dollar thrown into the fire—a sentiment not far from reality when we’re talking about a technology structure that hasn’t been meaningfully upgraded since the last millennium. “The IRS has some legacy infrastructure,” remarks Corcas. So what stops these wheels from turning?
The truth isn’t pretty. The same bureaucratic inertia and lack of accountability that’s allowed technology older than some of the agency’s employees to persist is a significant factor. Coupled with a certain level of political reluctance, some Democrats’ hesitation to change only contributes to the mire of bureaucratic indecision that’s holding the IRS back.
A Path Forward
While Democrats press for a cautious approach to fundamentally rethinking CSS, Musk’s initiative might be the bold move needed to do away with the suffocating and outdated systems. “They’re like a boa constrictor, They’re like a python,” said Scott Bessent on the inefficiency that permeates these bloated structures.
The DOGE initiative represents not just a chance to save billions but an opportunity to invite efficiency back into the federal government, a process that should be occupied with maximizing returns for taxpayers rather than outlandishly overbudget projects that drag like an anchor. It’s time for a change, and perhaps Elon Musk might just carry the torch to guide this outdated behemoth into a new age of efficiency.
