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GAO: Key challenges remain in TWIC program (10/20)

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a new report titled “DHS Should Address Key Challenges before Implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program.” The 57-page report is available – in PDF format – at the following link on the GAO web site: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06982.pdf A summary in the report states, “GAO recommends that, before implementing TWIC in the maritime sector, TSA develop and test solutions to problems identified during testing to ensure that key components of the program work effectively and strengthen contract planning and oversight practices before awarding the TWIC implementation contract. DHS reviewed a draft of this report and concurred with GAO’s recommendations.” The report also states the following: DHS and industry stakeholders face three major challenges in addressing problems identified during TWIC program testing and ensuring that key components of the TWIC program can work effectively in the maritime sector. Enrolling workers and issuing TWIC cards in a timely manner to a significantly larger population of workers than was done during testing of the TWIC program. Ensuring that the TWIC technology, such as biometric card readers, works effectively in the maritime sector. TSA has obtained limited information on the use of biometric readers in the maritime sector because most facilities that tested the TWIC program did not use these types of readers. Balancing the added security components of the TWIC program with the potential impact that the program could have on the flow of maritime commerce. ###