The Department of Homeland Security is three years behind schedule on a project to develop a standard smart-card identification method for federal employees and contractors, according to a DHS report. The project -- officially called Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12): Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors -- requires that DHS develop a government-wide way to identify employees by issuing smart cards. The cards contain information about which IT applications and networks and facilities each employee is permitted access to.
The original completion for the issuance and use of identity cards was Oct. 27, 2008, according to the report, issued by inspector general Richard L. Skinner. However, as of Sept. 22, 2009, only 15,567 of the approximately 250,000 department employees and contractors have been issued identity credentials.

The program's target date for completion has now been pushed to Sept. 30, 2011, the end of the 2011 fiscal year.

Specifically, DHS plans to issue smart cards to 135,000 federal employees and contractors by the end of fiscal year 2010, and to the remaining 105,000 employees and contractors by the end of fiscal year 2011.

The report blames poor program management, including insufficient funding and resources, as well as a change in implementation strategy for issuing cards in June 2009, for falling behind schedule.

There are significant IT problems hindering completion of the directive, too, according to the report.

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