In Depth

Milestones on the Way to a Standardized Federal ID Card

By CSO Contributor

August 01, 2006 — CSO —

Aug. 27, 2004 President Bush signs Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD 12), mandating a secure, common identification method for federal employees and contractors.

Feb. 25, 2005 The Secretary of Commerce approves Federal Information Processing Standard 201 (FIPS 201), which lays out the technical aspects of how HSPD 12 will be implemented.

June 2005 Agencies must submit implementation plans to the Office of Management and Budget.

August 2005 OMB releases guidance on implementing FIPS 201, with deadlines for all federal agencies and departments.

Oct. 27, 2005 Deadline for agencies to comply with part one of FIPS 201, which involves making sure their processes to issue ID cards meet certain standards.

February 2006 The Government Accountability Office reports that there are still no products available that have been approved as FIPS 201compliant, and warns that true interoperability may not be achieved.

June 30, 2006 OMB announces that the first nine products, from five vendors, have been approved as FIPS 201 compliant.

Oct. 27, 2006 Agencies must begin complying with part two of FIPS 201, which means actually issuing interoperable smart cards.

Oct. 27, 2007 Agencies must verify or complete background investigations for all current employees and contractors. (Background checks of workers with more than 15 years' tenure may be delayed.)

Oct. 27, 2008 Agencies must complete background investigations for all employees with more than 15 years tenure.