The Ballooning Balance in the LOCCS System
A Record High of Over $100 Billion
The current balance in the LOCCS system, according to a record reviewed by WIRED, is over $100 billion—money Congress has approved for HUD projects but which has yet to be drawn down. Much of this money has been earmarked to cover disaster assistance and community development work, a source at the agency says.
Access Control in the LOCCS System
Normally, those who have access to LOCCS require additional processing and approvals to access the system, and most only have “read” access, department employees say.
“Read/write is used for executing contracts and grants on the LOCCS side,” says one person. “It normally has strict banking procedures around doing anything with funds. For instance, you usually need at least two people to approve any decisions—same as you would with bank tellers in a physical bank.”
Other Systems with Elevated Access
The second system to which documents indicate both DOGE operatives at HUD have both read and write access is the HUD Central Accounting and Program System (HUDCAPS), an “integrated management system for Section 8 programs under the jurisdiction of the Office of Public and Indian Housing,” according to HUD.
The HUDCAPS System
This system was a precursor to LOCCS and is currently being phased out, but it is still being used to process the payment of housing vouchers and contains huge amounts of personal information. There are currently 2.3 million families in receipt of housing vouchers in the US, according to HUD’s own data, but the HUDCAPS database contains information on significantly more individuals because historical data is retained, says a source familiar with the system.
The Significance of WASS
WASS, or the Web Access Security Subsystem, is the third system to which DOGE has both read and write access, though only Mirski has access to this system according to documents reviewed by WIRED. It’s used to grant permissions to other HUD systems.
WASS: A System of Great Power
“WASS is an application for provisioning rights to most if not all other HUD systems,” says a HUD source familiar with the systems who is shocked by Mirski’s level of access, because normally HUD employees don’t have read access, let alone write access. “WASS is the system for setting permissions for all of the other systems.”
Additional Systems with Elevated Access
In addition to these three systems, documents show that Mirski has read-only access to two others. One, the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS), is a nationwide database that tracks all HUD programs underway across the country. The other is the Financial Assessment of Public Housing (FASS-PH), a database designed to “measure the financial condition of public housing agencies and assess their ability to provide safe and decent housing,” according to HUD’s website.
Conclusion
The revelations surrounding the level of access granted to DOGE operatives at HUD are concerning, to say the least. The sheer magnitude of the funds being managed by these individuals, combined with their elevated access to sensitive systems, raises serious questions about accountability and transparency.
FAQs
Q: What is the current balance in the LOCCS system?
A: The current balance in the LOCCS system is over $100 billion.
Q: What is the purpose of the LOCCS system?
A: The LOCCS system is used to manage funds for HUD projects, including disaster assistance and community development work.
Q: What is the significance of WASS?
A: WASS is used to grant permissions to other HUD systems, making it a system of great power.
Q: How many families are currently receiving housing vouchers?
A: According to HUD’s own data, there are currently 2.3 million families in receipt of housing vouchers in the US.
