Modernizing America’s Digital Backbone: A Trump-Era Opportunity to Fix Government Legacy Systems

Modernizing America’s Digital Backbone: A Trump-Era Opportunity to Fix Government Legacy Systems

In Honor of Major John B. Castleman II (April 12, 1964 – October 2, 2020)

By Chuck Cordak, with Credits to Major Richard J. Debastiani, Johnny “JT”, Kevin, Marshall, and Daniel.

 

Introduction

The U.S. government’s computer systems are rapidly decaying relics — a patchwork of incompatible systems, outdated computing languages, and decades-old hardware. These legacy systems, some dating back to the 1960s, have been patched with countless hours of manual data entry hours, outsourced, and then propped up to maintain jobs and political favor. The result is a death spiral of escalating costs, security vulnerabilities, and mission failures that threaten national security and public services. With Donald Trump back in office—a leader known for challenging entrenched systems—there is a unique opportunity to modernize these systems, funded by billions recovered from waste and fraud identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

This article is dedicated to Major John B. Castleman II, a brilliant IT specialist who served 26 years at the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) and two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Central State University graduate with a Master’s from DeVry’s Keller Graduate School, John was a math and science enthusiast who built rockets for fun and lived with an optimism that inspired all. His common-sense approach—never accepting “no” when “yes” made sense—would have cut through the bureaucracy strangling government tech. In his honor, we propose a bold plan to transform America’s digital infrastructure.

Digital Decay: The Looming Threat

The American government’s continued and deliberate dependence on this aging infrastructure is a multi-pronged threat: national security, core federal services to citizens, and simple fiscal solvency are at risk. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), federal agencies devote approximately 78% of their IT budgets to operating and maintaining existing systems (GAO Report).

The national security risk is particularly significant, with 68% of high-impact federal systems failing to meet cybersecurity standards. Our government’s reliance on outdated technology extends to critical military operations. For example, ADA95, an obsolete programming language, is still used by major defense companies for coding, while operating systems running on unsupported Windows XP persist across government systems, posing compatibility and security risks. Additionally, the U.S. military’s SATCOM ground terminals, some over 30 years old, are vulnerable to attacks, highlighting the urgent need for modernization.

This status quo is unsustainable, with profound fiscal, security, and productivity implications:

• Fiscal Drain: Federal agencies allocate 83% of their $92 billion IT budget to maintaining legacy systems (TIGTA Report). At the Pentagon, maintenance costs increase by 10-12% annually (DoD Strategy).
• Security Collapse: Known vulnerabilities were exploited in 76% of 2023 federal security incidents (CISA Assessment). The 2015 OPM breach, affecting 22.1 million records, cost an estimated $570 million in remediation and settlements (House Oversight Report), while the 2020 SolarWinds hack incurred $100 million in immediate response costs (GAO Blog).
• Productivity Bottlenecks: Government employees waste 240 million hours annually on manual data re-entry (OMB Dashboard). Eighteen federal agencies rely on “sneaker networks” for data transfer, and 45% of Veterans Affairs’ critical processes require manual intervention due to system limitations (GAO Data Practices; VA OIG Report).

These inefficiencies undermine national security, delay public services, and erode public trust, necessitating immediate action.

Gold, Steel, and the Three-Headed Snake

The barriers to modernization are complex, encompassing technological, financial, and political challenges:

• Technological: Legacy systems rely on outdated languages like COBOL, which few developers know, and obsolete hardware that is costly to maintain. Documentation often exists only in the minds of retiring specialists, complicating upgrades.
• Financial: High maintenance costs divert funds from innovation, with agencies spending up to 90% of IT budgets on legacy systems in some cases (FedScoop Report).
• Political: A “preservation coalition” of entrenched bureaucracies, congressional representatives prioritizing contractor jobs, and resistance from those benefiting from the status quo hinders reform. The Brookings Institution describes this coalition as a powerful force maintaining outdated systems (Brookings Study). Bureaucratic resistance, as noted by the University of Chicago Law Review, further complicates modernization efforts (UChicago Review).

Additional challenges include organizational silos that fragment IT systems, skill gaps among personnel accustomed to older technologies, and data quality issues that impede the adoption of advanced technologies like AI.

Chopping the Heads

Overcoming these barriers requires bold leadership and strategic action. Donald Trump’s willingness to disrupt established power structures positions him to challenge the preservation coalition. His executive actions, such as Schedule F, demonstrate a commitment to administrative overhaul, bypassing traditional bureaucratic resistance. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, serves as a critical tool for identifying inefficiencies and redirecting funds to modernization efforts. Unlike previous commissions, DOGE can leverage Trump’s political backing to cut through decades of resistance.

The Plan: Disrupt, Delete, Deliver

Modernization demands a three-pronged approach:

• Disrupt: Reform-minded leaders like Senator Bernie Moreno can empower a new generation of technologists to leverage AI to map legacy code, generate documentation, and migrate complex and outdated systems.
• Delete: The federal government’s processes, defined by statute and regulation, provide a unique advantage. As Major John B. Castleman II would have argued, business requirements are already codified in law, allowing agencies to build anew without always reverse-engineering decaying code.
• Deliver: Replace COBOL-heavy systems at the IRS, SSA, and DoD with modular, cloud-based platforms that are secure, scalable, and interoperable. A single, user-friendly portal, akin to an app store, could streamline citizen interactions, supported by real-time customer service.

Specific military upgrades are also critical. Implementing a full mesh topology would enhance system resilience, while updating COMSEC devices, which run on outdated Windows systems, would address vulnerabilities. Certifications like CCNA and Sec+ are essential to upskill personnel, though this may strain resources initially.

This modernization effort, estimated at $20-30 billion upfront, is a bargain compared to the $7-10 billion annual “cyber-debt” and $10-15 billion in lost productivity (Federal CIO Council). Every dollar invested could yield $3-5 in savings over five years.

A Better Country

Fixing the government’s IT infrastructure is critical for our nation, but it’s also an opportunity to remake how we interact with our government. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), a University of Michigan graduate, offers a compelling model through his entrepreneurial success. His approach—making services intuitive and customer-focused—can transform government interactions into a seamless experience, like downloading an app.

Senator Bernie Moreno’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Bernie Moreno’s entrepreneurial career is marked by vision and adaptability. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he immigrated to the U.S. at age five and became a citizen at 18. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Moreno entered the business world. In 2005, he purchased his first car dealership in Ohio, which he grew into one of the largest dealership groups in America, employing over 1,000 Ohioans. His dealerships, primarily in Greater Cleveland, were celebrated for their customer service, earning Moreno recognition as the largest volume luxury dealer in the Midwest (Moreno Senate).

Moreno’s foresight extended to emerging technologies. In 2016, he became an early investor in blockchain, recognizing its potential to revolutionize industries before it gained mainstream attention. He dedicated significant volunteer time and investment capital to blockchain ventures, demonstrating his ability to anticipate market trends (Biography Craft). This blend of traditional business success and tech innovation positions Moreno to advocate for modernizing government IT systems, applying his customer-centric strategies to public services.

As a senator since 2025, Moreno has championed efficiency and transparency. He has demanded accountability for luxury EV tax credits and fought to keep the Chillicothe Paper Mill open, showcasing his commitment to Ohioans (Moreno Senate). His legislative efforts, like proposing a bill to allow deductions for qualified automobile interest, reflect his business-oriented approach to policy (Congress.gov).

DOGE Digs up Billions

DOGE has uncovered staggering examples of misspent taxpayer dollars, providing a war chest for modernization:

Waste Identified	Amount	Details
Power Forward Communities	$2 billion	Funds allocated to a nonprofit linked to Stacey Abrams, flagged for potential fraud.
Improper Payments	$2.7 trillion	Since 2003, across programs like Medicare and Unemployment Insurance (House Oversight).
EPA’s “Gold Bars” Scheme	$20 billion	Funds parked at Citibank to evade oversight.
Interior Survey Waste	$830 million	Spent on vague surveys that could be automated.

These examples, totaling over $25 billion, can fund a comprehensive IT overhaul without raising taxes, ensuring a sustainable investment in America’s digital future.

The Team Behind the Vision

This vision is informed by a team of experts with deep experience in IT, military, and government sectors:

• Chuck Cordak: A father of six, raised as a Truman-Kennedy Democrat with conservative Catholic values, Cordak has spent years in Ohio GOP politics. A former ROTC Midshipman at Ohio State, he began his career at Control Data, working in Ohio, New York City and Chicago, where he sold software and tech solutions. From 1995 to 2000, he ran his own internet pioneer firm, serving automotive, banking, DoD, and medical clients. For 25 years, he has led a VC consulting firm, funding startups and turnarounds, giving him a front-row seat to technology’s evolution and government’s lag. His media appearances on SiriusXM and TNT Radio amplify his call for disruption.
• Major Richard J. Debastiani: We referenced his 1983 book, Computers on the Battlefield: Can They Survive?, warned of tech fragility in high-stakes environments, a concern still relevant today.
• Johnnie “JT” : As VP of Technical Product Management of banking systems, JT offers insights into private-sector agility, contrasting with government stagnation.
• Kevin: An IT sourcing specialist, Kevin highlights the inefficiencies of government outsourcing practices.
• Marshall: Provided critical analysis of technological and organizational barriers, including the preservation coalition and skill gaps.
• Daniel: Contributed specific examples of outdated military technology, such as ADA95 and vulnerable SATCOM terminals, emphasizing the need for modernization.

Their collective expertise fuels this call to action.

A Legacy Worth Building

Major John B. Castleman II didn’t just fix systems—he lifted people. He would have seen this modernization effort as a chance to serve God, family, and country, leaving a legacy beyond jobs or contracts. With Trump’s leadership, DOGE’s war on waste, and the expertise of dedicated professionals, we can honor John and millions of citizens by building a government that is fast, friendly, and future-ready. The scandals of waste and fraud are not just problems—they’re the cash to fund a digital revolution. Who let the DOGE out? It’s time we did.

Key Citations

• GAO Federal IT Budget Analysis FY2023
• OMB Federal Information Security Modernization Act Report
• CISA Federal Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
• TIGTA Modernization Challenges in IRS Legacy Systems
• DoD Digital Modernization Strategy FY 2023-2027
• House Oversight OPM Data Breach Report
• GAO SolarWinds Cyberattack Response
• OMB Federal IT Dashboard Annual Report
• GAO Federal Data Transfer Practices
• VA OIG IT System Modernization Assessment
• Brookings Institution Preservation Coalition
• FedScoop Report on Agency O&M Spending
• CSU Profile on Bernie Moreno
• Senator Bernie Moreno Official Website
• Bernie Moreno Biography Craft
• Congress.gov Bernie Moreno Legislation

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