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Government Security Progress Report
House Subcommittee evaluates need for improved IDs, security clearance reform and HSPD-12The Latest from SIW
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By Don Erickson
The need for American citizens to harden the security of their identification documents became apparent following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Several of the Sept. 11 hijackers illegally obtained driver’s licenses and boarded commercial planes that became the means to executing the attack. It is no surprise that one of the most critical recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission was to improve the security of U.S. ID documents. In 2002, President Bush made strides towards achieving secure identification documents for all Federal employees when he issued HSPD-12.
On April 9, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement convened a hearing, “Federal Security: ID Cards and Background Checks.” The event marked the release of a GAO report evaluating the progress of HSPD-12 implementation.
According to the GAO report, much work had been accomplished to lay the foundations for implementation of HSPD-12; however, federal agencies have made limited progress in implementing and using PIV cards.
In opening remarks, Chairman Ed Towns (D-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) noted the importance of secure identification documents for Americans, as well as the concern over the progress of HSPD-12 implementation. Bilbray questioned: “How are we (the Federal Government) setting the example for the use of secure ID cards in cities, states and counties?”
Witnesses, including government agency representatives, provided an update on the progress of HSPD-12 implementation. Karen Evans, administrator of E-Government and IT for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), said they were holding agencies accountable and monitoring progress of implementation. However, she admitted that to date, only 3 percent of all federal employees have been issued ID cards, and that many were only being used as flash passes. When Towns asked Evans what had been “wasteful with HSPD-12 implementation,” she reiterated that only 3 percent of the cards were issued, and that OMB was being mindful of spending and the GAO had an opportunity to correct any missteps.
Thomas Wiesner, deputy chief information officer for the Department of Labor (DOL), testified and noted “We have issued PIV cards to 10,591 of the 15,407 employees at DOL (69 percent). We have issued PIV cards to 1,210 of the 2,400 contractors (more than 50 percent).”
Mike Sade, assistant commissioner for Acquisition Management for the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service, highlighted GSA’s role in HSPD-12 implementation and discussed the establishment of the Approved Products List (APL). The APL is a list of HSPD-12 products certified to conform to FIPS-201. During the hearing Sade said, “There are more than 300 products on our APL available for purchase on Schedule 70.” In prepared testimony he said, “The infrastructure that GSA has established for HSPD-12 is critical to meet the requirements of the Presidential Directive and critical implementation milestones.”
