PIV card use about to be mandated

The White House will soon mandate the use of Personal Identify Verification cards, according to audience members who heard White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt speak at an event closed to reporters.

According to attendees, Schmidt said White House guidance is coming very soon, with an enforcement order and funding "to make sure we do it."

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Schmidt was speaking at a Titans of Technology breakfast presented by the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Enhancing Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, which requires the cards, has been a challenge, Schmidt said, according to attendees. The cards -- PIV in civilian agencies, Common Access Cards in the Defense Department -- are intended to control access to government facilities and information systems. However, HSPD-12 required agencies to issue the cards, but includes no mandate to actually use them.

DOD is using the CAC,Schmidt reportedly said, but the intent is to control access governmentwide, and the cards are for contractors too. Schmidt told the audience that getting agencies to use the PIV cards is a priority project. 

President George W. Bush enacted HSPD-12 in 2004.