In a surprising turn of events, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is inexplicably throwing a lifeline to a failed tech program initiated during the Obama years. In the least predictive scenario, the DOGE is deciding to prop up a financially bloated, fraud-ridden government tech program that puts taxpayers’ confidential data in jeopardy. This puzzling decision emanates from the General Services Administration. Evidently, we are back to the dark era where inefficiency, fraud, and waste were commonplace.
The root of the issue goes back to the days of the Obama administration, where the idea of Login.gov sprouted. It began as a slow burner but gained significant momentum with considerable federal support and funds after Biden seized power. This was, ostensibly, a platform to grow government intrusion by mandating the people to access governmental schemes via this platform. The fatal flaw, however, was the shoddy foundation rooted in overbearing authoritarian control as opposed to taxpayer efficiency.
The wasteful expenditure to date on Login.gov exceeds $300 million. Worse still, to bring about any meaningful improvement would require an enormous cash injection. A seemingly beneficial tool at first glance, Login.gov was proposed as the user’s ‘single account’ for government services. Ironically, it has failed miserably to meet even the most basic security standards to prevent fraud and safeguard taxpayer’s information, as mandated by the federal government itself.
Just two years prior, the GSA inspector general had found Login.gov guilty of duping people, promising adherence to stringent security standards it utterly failed to meet. Unsurprisingly, the Internal Revenue Service opts not to utilize Login.gov for the precise reason that it cannot implement crucial measures against fraud. This fact was revealed by the Treasury Department inspector general, adding another layer to the critique of this failing platform.
Despite the glaring failures and the firm roots of government control, Biden’s administration decided to stubbornly proceed. It dared to coerce every federal agency into using Login.gov via a draft executive order. Outrageously, the Labor Department, nonchalantly redirected taxpayer money to advocate for Login.gov’s widespread utilisation by state agencies, in spite of the justified criticism before the House Oversight Committee.
The program, in a blatant diversionary tactic, is awash with a needless focus on equity research rather than fixing its obvious deficiencies. Ridiculously prioritizing optics over function, the GSA conducted a year-long equity study before even attempting to meet the security standard it had previously failed. Login.gov insists that it finally complies with the mandatory security standards but oddly, there’s no transparency about how this was achieved.
A tangible sense of insecurity and concerns over privacy pervade Login.gov. Disturbingly, the website continues to leave taxpayers and their resources vulnerable to fraud. Personal data of over 57,417 IRS users was disseminated to unauthorised destinations outside US shores. Cybercriminals managed to steal a whopping $7.5 million from the Department of Health and Human Services grant system. Quietly swapping out Login.gov for a private sector alternative after the hustle, HHS had to undo its previous decisions.
Moreover, users couldn’t benefit from health services due to the frustrating inability of the site to connect individuals to their accounts. Some states, like Colorado, are actively seeking to discard Login.gov at certain agencies, labelling it ‘inadequate’ and linking it to payments to ‘bad actor groups’.
Alarmingly, the most critical performance metrics of Login.gov have been craftily concealed for the past two years. Those charged with the task of reviving Login.gov are blissfully ignorant of the fact that modifying the trajectory of a program fundamentally built on government intrusion is impossible. This isn’t a garden-variety task for a diligent DOGE engineer.
Given the climate of sophisticated cyber threats that our nation’s adversaries pose, to commit to protecting taxpayers’ identities is an absolute responsibility and not a choice. The Login.gov debacle has exposed needless and wasteful spending on a government program that fails to deliver and has put the identities of tax-paying Americans at risk. It’s time DOGE lives up to its promise and does more than merely pay lip service.
The current priority must be to identify this blunder for what it truly is – an embarrassing, wasteful, and fraudulent government initiative that should be scrapped, not persevered with. The government needs to take measures to safeguard the interests of the taxpayers and prevent their money from being funneled into obsolete projects like this one.
Indeed, this situation harkens back to incessant efforts to inflate the governmental mandate under the false guise of enhanced user experience. It’s a classic case of government control masquerading as governmental efficiency and exposes the repeated attempts to milk taxpayer resources by the administration.
However, the truth about Login.gov has finally emerged. Far from being a catalyst for efficiency, it has become an emblem of administrative overreach, unchecked spending, and an insecure platform. The wasted investment, security breaches, and taxpayer dissatisfaction are all glaring indicators that demonstrate how Login.gov has lost its way.
It appears that throughout the saga, the administration’s actions circulated within an echo chamber, neglecting the voice of the masses and data-driven evidence. The questionable decision to augment the influence of a failing platform rather than cutting the losses, exhibits the administration’s commitment to an outmoded philosophy of government control.
The hope now is that reevaluation occurs, ensuring more stringent and sensible investments of taxpayer funds. Missteps like the Login.gov situation should be learning opportunities that send a clear message about imprudent decision-making. It seems necessary that a well-needed lesson in government efficiency and accountability should be forthcoming.
Lastly, it’s crucial for the DOGE to make good on its promise- to wipe out wasteful and fraudulent government schemes like Login.gov. Only then will taxpayers’ faith be restored, and the true purpose of the department – ‘Government Efficiency’ be realized.