HHS Replaces Legacy COBOL Payroll System, Delivering Faster, More Reliable Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 2, 2026 – Under the leadership of the Chief Information Officer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has replaced a legacy COBOL-based payroll system with a secure, cloud-based platform that reduces administrative burden and improves service delivery. The effort addresses rising operational complexity and maintenance costs associated with outdated systems that were costly, fragile, and difficult to sustain. HHS led a coordinated, cross-agency transition away from mainframe-dependent code and manual processes, overcoming limited documentation and decades-old business logic to deliver a scalable, interoperable system. Tasks that once required up to six hours of manual effort are now completed in minutes through automation, improving speed, accuracy, and reliability.

“This milestone demonstrates that HHS is not only transforming its legacy systems but leading the way for innovation across the federal government,” said HHS Chief Information Officer Clark Minor. “By replacing outdated technology and driving collaboration across agencies, we are increasing efficiency, strengthening security, and delivering more reliable, higher-quality services to the American people.”

HHS partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) over eight months to execute the effort. In collaboration with FAA, HHS analyzed complex business logic and mapped system dependencies. End-to-end testing, conducted in collaboration with DFAS, FAA, and internal HHS time and attendance and payroll teams, validated accuracy, performance, and interoperability. HHS led the design, development, and deployment of the solution on a secure cloud platform, incorporating testing results to ensure reliability at scale.

This initiative positions HHS to align with the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal HR 2.0 initiative and supports government-wide efforts to transition to modern, shared HR systems. It builds on insights gained from business logic analysis, development of a refined logical data model, and lessons learned during extensive payroll testing. By applying these insights, HHS is reducing implementation risk, accelerating adoption, and improving interoperability. The effort also reflects the Administration’s commitment to a more efficient, accountable federal government that reduces waste, improves performance, and delivers more reliable services to its workforce and the American people.

About the HHS OCIO: The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) serves as the collaborative hub of a unified One HHS technology enterprise. Together with the Office of Information Security (OIS), the Office of IT Operations (OPS), HR IT Consolidation (HRIT), and the offices of the Chief Data Officer and Chief AI Officer, we operate as a connected network of teams dedicated to delivering technology that is secure, accessible, and innovative across the Department. For more information about HHS OCIO please visit: tech.hhs.gov

Have questions: Please email hhs.ocio@hhs.gov